Newcomer Writing Pacing Guide
The Newcomer writing strategies and pacing guide is intended for secondary ESL students within their
first year of attendance at a U.S. school and with IPT scores of Novice Low.
By the end of the school year, students should be able to…
… write a complete and grammatically correct sentence.
… express an idea using multiple complete sentences.
… use a bilingual dictionary to clarify new English vocabulary.
… list and differentiate between the seven 6+1 Traits of Writing.
By the end of the first quarter, students should be able to…
… recognize and use taught vocabulary.
… find native language words in a bilingual dictionary and attempt to use the English translations.
… compose simple, complete sentences, employing capitalization, end punctuation, and correct verb
conjugation in the present tense.
… recognize how their written work reflects good Ideas, Word Choice and Presentation.
By the end of the second quarter, students should be able to…
… recognize and use taught vocabulary.
… use bilingual dictionaries to find appropriate English translations of nouns and modifiers, with
guidance.
… compose complete sentences, attempting to employ present, past and future tense, as well as standard
capitalization and punctuation.
… compose a small variety of sentence structures, including questions and use of prepositions.
… recognize how their written work reflects good Ideas, Word Choice, Conventions, and Presentation.
By the end of the third quarter, students should be able to…
… recognize and use taught vocabulary, and begin to see how some English words are more precise and
expressive in certain contexts.
… use bilingual dictionaries to find appropriate English translations
… compose complete and grammatically correct sentences in past, future and present tense.
… express complex concepts by composing multiple-sentence responses.
… employ a variety of sentence structures.
… Recognize how their written work reflects good Ideas, Word Choice, Organization, Sentence Fluency,
Conventions and Presentation.
By the end of the fourth quarter, students should be able to…
… recognize and use a wide vocabulary of English words effectively.
… use bilingual dictionaries independently to expand and refine vocabulary.
… compose complete, grammatically correct and appropriately varied sentences.
… express complex concepts by composing multiple sentence responses enhanced by logical organization.
… recognize how their written work reflects good Ideas, Word Choice, Organization, Sentence Fluency,
Voice, Conventions and Presentation.
Middle School Pacing Guide Chart
NH
4.07
Use bilingual dictionary to aid writing
NH
4.03
Write a simple personal narrative with
assistance
NH
4.04
Organize and write sentences in
sequential order with assistance
NH
4.05
Begin to use present, present
progressive, and simple past in simple
sentences
NH
4.06
Begin to use some irregular past tense
verbs
IL
4.02
Demonstrate such control of basic
sentence construction and use of
standard conventions as spelling rules
and subject verb agreement with
assistance
IL
4.03
Write in present, past, and future
tenses with some errors that don't
interfere with meaning
IL
4.04
Produce simple paragraphs using
common language structures that may
have some errors with assistance
IL
4.05
Produce simple written responses to
content area texts appropriate in
dificulty for proficiency level, using
reference material, with assistance
2nd quarter
NH
4.02
Write simple, short sentences on
familiar topics with some mistakes in
spelling, capitalization and punctuation
3rd quarter
Write and use high-frequency words
with correct spelling appropriate in
difficulty for proficiency level
4th quarter
NH
4.01
Visions Basic
1st quarter
ELD NCSCOS
Visions A
ancillary
activities
Chapters A-D,
Chapters 1-2
Writing Journal
Chapter 1, 6+1
Traits © Ideas/
Word Choice/
Presentation,
bilingual
dictionary use,
vocabulary
journal
Chapters 3-5
Units 1, 2
Writing Journal
Chapter 2, 6+1
Traits ©
Organization,
Conventions,
bilingual
dictionary use,
vocabulary
journal
Units 3, 4
Writing Journal
Chapter 3, 6+1
Traits ©
Sentence
Fluency,
bilingual
dictionary use,
vocabulary
journal
Units 5, 6
Writing Journal
Chapter 4, 6+1
Traits © Voice,
bilingual
dictionary use,
vocabulary
journal
High School Pacing Guide Chart
Keys to Learning
units
Copy words and phrases from a
model.
NH
4.03
Record information on familiar
topics and academic areas using
graphic organizers.
NH
4.04
Write simple sentences using
common verbs, nouns, and highfrequency modifiers in guided
writing.
NH
4.05
Write for real-life purposes with
guidance.
NH
4.06
Understand and use the
components of the writing process
with guidance.
NH
4.07
Edit and correct basic language
conventions.
NH
4.08
Recognize basic elements of
organization.
NH
4.09
Write simple paragraphs using the
basic elements of organization.
IL 4.03
Develop an awareness of the use
of complex sentences styles and
varied conventions in writing.
IL 4.04
Write paragraphs on familiar topics
and on previously learned
academic content using the
elements of a paragraph.
IL 4.07
Us a rubric to self-assess writing
2nd quarter
NH
4.02
3rd quarter
Demonstrate knowledge of
phonemes and word families by
correctly writing previously studied
words.
4th quarter
NH
4.01
1st quarter
ELD SCOS objectives for writing
Units 1 and 2
Units 3 and 4
Units 5 and 6
Shining Star Intro
units
Ancillary activities
Introduction, Unit 1
Writing Journal Chapter 1,
6+1 Traits © Ideas/Word
Choice/ Presentation,
bilingual dictionary use,
vocabulary journal
Units 2, 3 and 4
Writing Journal Chapter 2,
6+1 Traits © Organization/
Conventions, bilingual
dictionary use, vocabulary
journal, Level 1 Penguin
novels
Units 5 and 6
Writing Journal Chapter 3,
6+1 Traits © Sentence
Fluency, bilingual dictionary
use, vocabulary journal,
Level 1 Penguin novels
Units 7 and 8
Writing Journal Chapter 4,
6+1 Traits © Voice, using
Traits for self-evaluation
and draft editing, bilingual
dictionary use, vocabulary
journals, Level 2 Penguin
novels, Bridges to
Literature Level I (gold)