Writing like a STAAR
The best intervention is
good instruction!
Prompt
Assign vs. Instruct?
Searching for “the answer”
The Answer……….
Best Practices
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Writing Process Strategies
Mentor Text
Modeling the Writing Process
Increase Writing Frequency and Duration
Setting Goals and Using Rubrics
Collaborative Writing
Grammar in Context
Writing Across the Content Areas
Word Processing Programs
Instruction
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Author’s Purpose
Thesis (Central Idea/Controlling Idea)
Organization
Sentence Variety
Transitional Words and Phrases
Word Choice
Figurative Language
Tone
Sensory Language
Introduction and Conclusion
Grammar and Conventions
Summer School
The best intervention is
good instruction
BOOT CAMP
Summer School Intervention
Recommendations
 Genre based
 Informed by the philosophy of Writing
Workshop (writing process)
 Based on 4 day week
 2 hours of daily writing instruction
Day 1
 Genre Immersion
 Students select topic
 Prewrite
 Teacher models drafting
 Students draft
DURING WRITING TIME (after the mini-lesson) teacher is moving about the room
and conducting mini-conferences with each students every day.
Day 2
 Revision mini-lesson(s)
 Students share their drafts with peers
 Students Revise
 Students share their revised essays with peers
DURING WRITING TIME (after the mini-lesson) teacher is moving about the
room and conducting mini-conferences with each students every day.
Day 3
 Continue revision mini-lesson(s)
 Students Revise
 Students share their revised essays with peers
 Editing mini-lesson(s)
 Students to share their revised and edited drafts with peers
 Final revisions and edits. Publish
DURING WRITING TIME (after the mini-lesson) teacher is moving about the room and conducting miniconferences with each students every day.
Day 4
 Share with authentic audience
 Mini-assessment
Resources
Planning for 2012-2013
 Questions to think about
– Amount of time in schedule
– Teacher proficiency
– Teacher confidence
– Administrative support
– Vertical alignment
– Common vocabulary
– Relationships
Professional Development
How were the phase-in cut scores determined?
Math, Science and Social
Studies
English
Phase-in 1—Level II
1.0 SD Below
Recommended
.5 SD Below Recommended
Phase-in 2—Level II
.5 SD Below
Recommended
.2 SD Below Recommended
Phase I Raw Scores
Level II—Satisfactory
80.00%
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
Phase I
40.00%
Final
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
English I Writing
Algebra I
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/
Recommended Raw Scores
Level II--Satisfactory
80.00%
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
Phase I
40.00%
Final
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
English I Writing
Algebra I
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/
Planning for 2012-2013
 Questions to think about
– Amount of time in schedule
– Teacher proficiency
– Teacher confidence
– Administrative support
– Vertical alignment
– Common vocabulary
– Relationships
Professional Development