Every Child Can Write, Grades 2-5

Foreword M. Colleen Cruz Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction Why Our Work Matters Entry Points, Bridges, and Pathways How This Book Is Organized and What I Hope You'll Gain From Reading It PART 1: CREATING A PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT Chapter 1: Come In and Look Around! How does the classroom environment support our writers who face instructional obstacles? Our striving writers benefit from an organized environment, and they need routines in order to maintain that organization. Our classroom's spaces should contain only materials that foster student learning and independence. The more we create, provide, and encourage the use of tools for independence and repertoire, the more learning will happen in our classrooms. Chapter 2: Listen, Learn, and Then Go Write! How can we set up classroom management and routines to support learning and independent writing? Transitions work best when everyone, especially striving writers, gets to where they belong during instruction and independent writing time. In order for instruction to be effective, students must not only listen to it, they must also understand it. Independent writing time should involve independently writing. PART 2: FINDING ENTRY POINTS AND BUILDING BRIDGES Chapter 3: Find the Place Where Writers Can Join the Work How can we provide entry points so all writers get to experience success within the writing process? We can use what we know about standards and progressions of writing to help students grow their ZPD along the continuum of mastery. When we determine where and how students get stuck in their process, we can help them find the right entry point. We empower students and engage them in their development as writers by teaching them to self-assess their process-and progress. Chapter 4: Construct Bridges for Writers to Join the Journey How can we change the steps and the process so that all writers can participate and produce? Even though choice is a critical feature in many writing classes, sometimes we need to remove choice in order to provide temporary scaffolds that get students writing. The bridges we provide our striving writers may need to be placed in different parts of the process. Sometimes isolating skills is an effective way to improve overall performance. PART 3: PROVIDING PATHWAYS Chapter 5: The Power of Paper-Don't Underestimate It! How can we leverage paper choice to inspire our writers who face instructional obstacles? Paper has the power to communicate what is important-neatness or content? Paper choice communicates our expectations and helps students set expectations for themselves. Paper can be one of your most powerful scaffolds for focus and organization. Chapter 6: Co-Create Classroom Charts as Pathways Toward Independence How can we use charts to develop students' independence within our writing classrooms? It's important to be confident about the types and purposes of various charts. Quick-Reference Guide to Classroom Charts We need to address what gets in the way of relevant, responsive charts-and know what we can do about it. More than anything else, classroom charts are there for students to use. Chapter 7: Venture Forth on Higher-Tech Pathways . . . With Intention and Forethought How can we leverage technology to find entry points and build bridges or pathways for our writers who face instructional obstacles? Technology has the power to impact students, and it has the power to impact teachers. Technology enables us to provide access to students so that tools, charts, and other resources can be easily accessed at points in the process where and when students need them. It's important to pay attention to the reason we are using any digital device, modification, or tool with students-and make sure it fits a student's needs. Chapter 8: Spelling and Conventions-The Pitfalls and Potholes Along the Trail How can we address the skills involved with spelling and conventions while not losing momentum with the overall writing process? Striving writers-no, all writers-need to see conventions and spelling done correctly. As we teach the transcriptive elements of spelling and punctuation, our instruction must be within students' realm of possibility and transference-within their ZPD. We can improve correct usage by finding ways to embed conventions across the day, increasing the level of intention, and infusing elements of play during students' independent writing time. Chapter 9: Every Child Can Write-A Case Study What does it look like in a real classroom when we merge entry points, bridges, and pathways? Increasing Volume as a Crucial First Step Establishing Routines Providing Charts for Independence Finding Different Entry Points Building Independence for All Expanding Paper Choice Assessing Engagement Reflecting on Student Growth and Making Adjustments Every Child Can Write: Getting Closer to Our Goals Appendix A. Favorite Mentor Texts for Writing Instruction Narrative Information Opinion B. Mentor Text Charts With Craft Moves Narrative Information Opinion C. Sample of Progressions Creating a Beginning for a Narrative Story Creating an Ending for a Narrative Story A Sample of a Progression of a Narrative Beginning Using Stars A Progression of Narrative Elaboration Introduction Progression for Information Writing Conclusion Progression for Information Writing D. Samples of Task Analyses Sample Task Analyses for Narrative Story, Research-Based Essay, Information Writing Classroom Example: Narrative Story Classroom Example: Information Book E. Anchor Charts Narrative Writing Anchor Chart Sequence Information Writing Anchor Chart Sequence F. Writing Standards Narrative Writing Standards Information Writing Standards Opinion Writing Standards G. Convention Station Samples Periods and Capitals Capitals Commas Tricky Words References Index