Avon Grove School District Writing Research Committee

2008-2010

Curriculum Advisory CouncilJune 17, 2010

Writing Research Committee

The committee was formed in the Fall of 2008 following the distribution of an interest survey to all teachers.

The committee consists of representatives from: All buildings and all levels K-12 Special and regular education teachers ELL teachers Administrators Librarians Coaches Reading Specialists PAWLP Fellows Instructional Technology Lead Teachers

The work of the committee was shaped by the following guiding questions:

What will students know and be able to do as a result of a successful implementation of a writing framework and writing process ?

How will we (all teachers) get them there?

The ProcessWinter and Spring 2009:

Surveyed writing teachers Gathered district data on writing achievement and instruction Identified strengths and weaknesses Researched writing philosophies and programs Drafted the AGSD “Writing Beliefs” Selected pilot programs for each building/grade cluster Began mini-pilots (one unit) of Lucy Calkins, Marcia Freeman,

Being a Writer, Framing Your Thoughts, and Collins Writing programs

The Process Continues:

Fall 2009 and Winter 2010:

Finalized the AGSD “Writing Beliefs” Continued and expanded pilots—Middle School and High School—

Collins; AGIS—Marcia Freeman & “Being a Writer”; Penn London—Lucy Calkins , Marcia Freeman, & “Being a Writer”

Created and aligned the Writing Framework K-12 by genre—clarified expectations, rigor, and genre descriptions at each level

The Process Continues:

Spring 2010

Continued pilots Meet with elementary pilot teachers two times to gather feedback Finalized the Writing Framework K-12

AVON GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Writing Beliefs The Avon Grove School District is committed to building a strong community of writers who engage in daily purposeful writing in a collaborative environment. Therefore, we believe... writing is a recursive process that allows choice and opportunities to write for a variety of authentic purposes and audiences.

writing instruction is explicit and grounded in best practice

writing is integrated in all content areas.

writing instruction is scaffolded across the grade levels.

writing develops and demonstrates critical thinking.

The Writing Framework The AGSD Writing Framework is a K-12

framework organized around genres: Personal Narrative

Narrative FictionInformational ProceduralInformational DescriptivePersuasivePoetryResearch

Within the Framework, the expectation and rigor for each genre is described at each grade level through the domain areas:

Focus

Content

Organization

Style

AGSD Writing Curriculum

Writing Framework+

Writer’s Workshop+

Writing Programs as Resources

Elementary Pilot Program

April 8, 2010 Pilot Teacher Evaluation Workshop•Evaluation Results

Program Section I Section 2 Section 3 Total

Marcia Freeman 87.5% 87.8% 96% 90.4%

Being A Writer 83.2% 89 % 97% 89.6%

Lucy Calkins 100% 89 % 100% 94.5%

May 25, 2010 Pilot Teacher Evaluation Workshop

1st Choice 2nd Choice 3rd Choice

PLE Lucy Calkins Being A Writer Marcia Freeman

AGIS Marcia Freeman Being A Writer

Writing Programs

Kindergarten Kid Writing Program – Eileen Feldgus

Grade 1-2 Units of Study - Lucy Calkins

Grades 3-6 CraftPlus Writing Program – Marcia Freeman

Grades 7-12 Collins Writing Program – John Collins

Next Steps- Grades 1-6

• Continue professional development on Writer’s Workshop

• Provide professional development on the writing program

• Continue to provide professional development in the craft of writing

• Share and utilize the writing framework• On-going professional development

Next Steps- Grades 6-12

• Continue Collins implementation in grades 6-12

• Continue to provide professional development in the craft of writing

• Share and utilize the writing framework• Determine FCA’s and provide professional

development

Thank You