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Improving Students' Writing, K-8
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Improving Students' Writing, K-8
From Meaning-Making to High Stakes!



October 2005 | 184 pages | Corwin

"Purposeful, realistic . . . and clearly written….the book renews my excitement for teaching writing, and for new teachers, the text offers suggestions from a voice of experience-all within the framework of NCLB legislation for differentiating teaching based on learners' needs."
-Julia Weinberg, Instructor
University of Nevada, Reno

Give students the power to express their thinking in writing and to use writing as a process for learning!

How can we improve students' ability to write "constructed response" to high stakes content area test items? How can we open for them the writing pathway to exploring and understanding informational texts? How can we help them develop the essential traits of proficient writing? Nationally recognized experts in literacy with experience in elementary, middle school, and university classrooms as well as consulting expertise, Barone and Taylor meld theoretical and practical considerations about writing instruction to explain how to teach each child to:

  • Self-monitor to improve writing skills
  • Grow in ability to write successful constructed response
  • Use writing to process and stretch their own thinking
  • Prepare for high stakes writing assessment

Improving Students' Writing, K-8 brings together real-life examples, rubrics, reproducible aids and how-to's for getting the most out of your writers.


 
Preface
 
About the Authors
 
1. Writing to Learn and Understand
Purposes for Writing

 
Yesterday’s and Today’s Challenges

 
Literacy Connections in Your Classroom

 
The Three Hardest Parts About Helping Student Writers

 
Writing Together as a Way of Communicating, Learning, and Meaning-Making

 
 
2. Writing About Information
Informal Writing

 
Formal Writing

 
Connections Between Informational Text and Student Writing

 
Reading Informational Text to Learn About Structure

 
Final Thoughts

 
 
3. Narrative Writing
Narrative Writing

 
Writing Development

 
Gender and Writing

 
Informal Narrative Writing

 
Formal Narrative Writing

 
Final Thoughts

 
 
4. Writing With Purpose for Real Audiences
Part of a Classroom Culture

 
Writing for Real Audiences

 
Writing for Real Purposes

 
Analyzing Writing as a Craft

 
Revision

 
Responding to Writing

 
Editing

 
Writing With Reason

 
 
5. Preparing for High-Stakes Writing Assessments
Historical Perspective

 
Writing Assessment Methods

 
Writing Assessment Tasks

 
Helping Students With Trait-Scored Divergent and Convergent Assessment Items

 
Product Versus Process

 
Final Thoughts

 
 
6. Connecting Writing and Classroom Conversation
Academic Conversations

 
Final Thoughts

 
 
Afterword
 
Appendix
 
References
 
Index

"Purposeful, realistic, throetically based...and clearly written by authors who appreciate bringing the joy of learning into the classroom. For experienced teachers, the book renews my excitement for teaching writing, and for new teachers, the text offers suggestions from a voice of experience-all within the framework of NCLB legislation for differentiating teaching based on learners' needs."

Julia Weinberg, Instructor
University of Nevada, Reno
Key features
  • Full of ideas for teachers, study groups and professional development
  • Structures help teachers motivate the Big Three of Writing: Getting Started, Continuing Writing and Finishing!
  • Helps teachers prep students for high stakes tests
  • Combines clear explanation and teaching direction
  • Keys to improve "Constructed Response" for standardized assessments
  • Many reproducibles
  • Strategic tools build the 6 traits of assessed writing
  • Authors bring both research and classroom experience
  • Samples of student writing illustrate how-to to identify where and how to move students forward  
  • emphasis on teaching writing about content and subject information
  • Explicit, step-by-step guidelines
  • Sample dialog for teachers to guide students
  • quick teacher reference note cards for varied writing styles
  • Maps for helping students organize writing

Purchasing options

For large school/district orders, volume discounts, availability and shipping times contact customer service at 800-233-9936
or order@corwin.com.

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ISBN: 9781412917124
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ISBN: 9781412917117
CAD$ 118.95

For large school/district orders, volume discounts, availability and shipping times contact customer service at 800-233-9936
or order@corwin.com.

For instructors