Inspiring well-rounded, confident writers

The Primary Write Traits course is for primary teachers who want to learn how to use the six traits of writing (ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions) with their students. Teachers will incorporate the use of literature, art, and a variety of other instructional activities to support the development of the traits in young students. In addition, participants learn to evaluate student writing across all six traits using a developmentally appropriate continuum, use literature to provide models of the traits for student writers, and support students as they begin to revise their own work.

During the course, teachers will have hands-on experiences with lessons that introduce students to the traits and will try out many writing activities that they can immediately use in their classrooms. The demonstrations, lessons, and activities are designed for K–2 educators. For districts implementing Write Traits^® Kindergarten or Write Traits^® Classroom Kits time is spent on effectively integrating these materials into the writing curriculum.

Length:
One or two days

Objectives:

• Understand the six traits and how to teach them at the primary level
• Recognize the traits in early forms of writing
• Provide instruction that builds on the strengths of the emerging writer
• Use literature to model the traits
• Incorporate six trait instruction into primary classroom activities

College Credit Available

The Write Traits course is designed for teachers who want to begin using the six traits of writing (ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions) in their classroom instruction. Teachers will learn how to teach and assess writing using this writing model. In the Write Traits course participants learn about the traits, become familiar with trait language, and understand how the traits support writing process-based instruction.

In addition, participants learn to assess student writing across all six traits, use literature to provide models of the traits for student writers, and support students as they assess and revise their own work. During the course, teachers will have hands-on experiences with lessons that introduce students to the traits. They will also try out many writing activities that they can immediately use in their classrooms. For districts implementing Write Traits^® Kindergarten, Write Traits^® Classroom Kits or Write Traits^® Advanced Notebooks, time is spent on effectively integrating these materials into the writing curriculum.

Length:
One or two days

Objectives:

• Understand what the six traits are and how to teach them
• Integrate the traits into writing process-based instruction
• Utilize the traits to improve student writing and prepare students for writing assessments
• Develop ways to use literature to model the traits
• Assess writing using the six traits rubric

College Credit Available

The Writing Classroom is for teachers who want to learn how to improve student writing using the writing process and the six traits. During this highly interactive course, participants write an actual paper, applying all of the skills and strategies they are learning under the guidance of the trainer. Coaching feedback is immediate, and teachers have the opportunity to interact with, and learn from other participants.

Teachers will learn how to apply their new learning through the Back-in-Class activities that occur throughout the course. Participants will also explore the topics of writing assessment and how to create a writing environment within the classroom. For districts adopting Write Source, time is spent on effectively integrating these materials into the writing curriculum.

Length:
One or two days

Objectives:

• Understand the steps of the writing process
• Demonstrate increased confidence as writers and teachers of writing
• Apply an understanding of the writing process and six traits to the classroom
• Utilize instructional strategies to help students become successful writers in the classroom, on state assessments, and in the real world

College Credit Available

This hands-on course is designed for teachers who want to learn practical, research-based ideas for using literature as mentor text to teach key writing skills and strategies. The course combines the use of real literature, along with six trait instruction and the writing process, to create powerful lessons that guide and support student writers.

During this interactive course, teachers learn techniques to use classroom literature as effective models for writing. Teachers examine how to use both narrative and expository literature as mentor text to show, not just tell, students how to write well. The course guides teachers through selecting literature to use as mentor text, using the text as a model for writing skills, and designing lessons. Ideas presented model for teachers how to bring the literature of authors into the classroom to serve as mentor text for student writers.

Length:
One day

Objectives:

• Identify elements of strong writing in authentic literature
• Utilize literature as mentor text for teaching the traits of writing
• Design writing lessons using mentor text
• Select fiction and non-fiction mentor text for writing instruction

College Credit Pending

The Writing Instruction Across the School Day course reviews research on writing development and the best practices for instruction. The framework of a writing course is established with each instructional technique explored. Critical links are made from the writing course to content area writing by specifically addressing nonfiction forms and text patterns. Participants have an opportunity to apply new learning and practice with support to ensure confident transfer into the classroom. In addition to the group content session, additional seminar materials support teachers’ ongoing growth with partner learning extensions, and review activities that can be incorporated into professional learning communities. This seminar is also a great support to schools implementing Rigby’s Literacy by Design or other writing course resources.

Length:
One day

Objectives:

• Know key research in writing development and the importance of writing across the curriculum
• Implement a writing workshop with modeled and shared writing lessons
• Explicitly teach nonfiction forms and text patterns to support writing ability across the curriculum
• Conduct writing conferences to support developing writers
• Utilize a variety of assessments to monitor progress and plan instruction
• Conduct a case study on one student to apply new strategies and monitor progress

College Credit Available

A powerful approach to helping students learn content material is to have them write about the subject. Now middle and high school teachers from any curricular area can use writing assignments in the classroom to motivate student writers and help them to process and articulate new learning.

During this dynamic course teachers will explore writing assignments and classroom-tested strategies that encourage thinking and deepen the understanding of content. Teachers will learn practical ways to incorporate writing instruction with any content area and boost students’ writing performance across the curriculum. Participants will examine different types of writing, including nontraditional writing assignments, which align with the demands of standardized tests and today’s work place.

Length:
One day

Objectives:

• Understand how students benefit from writing
• Utilize ideas for writing activities and topics in their content area
• Apply tools for assessing student writing
• Implement assessment strategies that transfer to district and state assessments
• Connect instructional strategies addressing grammar/punctuation/usage to student writing

College Credit Available

The Writing Workshop is a powerful approach to instruction that develops highly proficient, talented, motivated writers who compose with voice and craft. This course is designed to give teachers a firm foundation for using the writing course approach in their 3–12 classrooms. Teachers will learn the research and best practices behind the writing course approach, as well as a variety of classroom-tested strategies.

During this highly interactive course, participants will explore how to establish a writing course, plan effective units of study, manage record keeping, assess student notebooks, and create meaningful grammar practice. Instructional strategies for English language learners, differentiation and assessment are integrated throughout the learning. Teachers leave with the knowledge and tools to establish a course approach as the primary organization for their writing instruction.

Length:
One day

Objectives:

• Know how to implement a writing worksho
• Use student writing to plan mini-lessons within the writing workshop
• Understand how to use student writing as a tool for conferring
• Use assessment results and rubrics to plan effective instruction
• Integrate grammar and provide meaningful practice

College Credit Pending

This course will introduce participants to online tools and resources to improve student writing. Information gathering, pooling and sharing of writing, collaboration, and interpersonal exchanges are some of the online projects that will be presented. Participants will be guided through a digitally supported writing process which allows the student to engage in collaborative peer editing, solve problems, learn and work in teams, exercise high-level thinking skills, and increase information literacy. Available for K–5 or 6–12.

Length:
One day

Participants must have access to a computer and the Internet.

Objectives:

• Construct a technology integrated writing classroom
• Design appropriate curriculum/technology integration projects for literacy learners at all grades
• Understand the components of online peer revision
• Learn strategies for incorporating online student learning communities
• Integrate print and digital tools into the writing classroom
• Locate and use online tools used in assessment and record keeping
• Organize their classrooms to accommodate a more student-centered online learning environment
• Manage the online/digital writing process in the classroom

College Credit Pending