ELA+–+Writing

K-5 will be trying out a writing assessment in February. This assessment will be a formative assessment that is used at the beginning and middle part of the year to determine what instruction students still need their writing to meet the grade level standard. There will only be a fall and winter assessment, no spring due to the multitude of assessments that are given in the spring and the intention is to guide upcoming instruction. This winter and next fall the purpose of the assessment administrations will be to collect district wide student writing samples that demonstrate the range of levels in the district to establish anchor papers. Scoring student writing and holding grade level discussion around “What is good enough?” is staff development in itself. We will learn what are students are capable of doing and learn from each other what works to nurture them to be even better writers. //Step Up to Writing// is a supplemental curriculum that was purchased for K-5 teachers two years ago because the HMR Writing program was weak. Two lead teachers were sent to summer Trainer of Trainers training to help lead the momentum around //Step Up to Writing//. Teachers may also use the writing process as an instructional tool to teach the writing curriculum.