12-3-12

12/3/12 PLG meeting

Our kids don’t write very well. Need to come up with a way to get kids writing more Focus this year on first two levels (quick write, quiz) Where do we go from here
 * State the issue** – how we implement Collins write at grade level and content area

Type 1 and type 2 applicable for math Concern about not collecting them (looking for correct information) Uncomfortable giving assessment grade Skeptical for type 3 and type 4 in math editing in math class
 * Write a reflection**

In science have used quick writes for many years and they are integrated into my curriculum. I have just slight tweeks to existing assignments to get them to level 2. Only slight negative is I wish there were more time spent on level 3 and 4.

Letting staff know it was okay not to mark all writing was good. Not a lot of discussion/buy in before the workshop. Many staff did not feel ownership and felt it was not the best use of time. There were different needs for different subject areas that weren’t addressed through the workshop. There was not much discussion prior to the workshop among the faculty as to whether this is a direction the staff wants to take. Expectations for what were supposed to get out of the workshop should be communicated before the workshops. Other disciplines that are not so writing intensive could have used the time wisely with another task. Writing is very poor with lots of kids so we need to start somewhere. Can get in a trap of giving good grades for an overall bad product if you are only focused on FCA. Many rubrics cover the same things as the fca just in a different format

Better day than most workshop days. Kids need to write. Lower levels expecially. Not totally clear on the focus correction areas. More difficult for social studies when dealing with content. Still feel as if we need to mark everything. 3,4,5 will take more time since you can’t do the curriculum and 3,4,5. What resources will be given to accomplish Collin writing? In favor of school wide writing prompt and use a school wide rubric to grade it. Use that to get baseline data More writing on demand will ease their anxiety of having to write on high stakes test. Less writing in English because the classes are being used to reinforce reading, speaking and writing. Must make writing about the reading so its harder for students that haven’t read the book. Common core focuses on pulling info from a complicated text to use facts to support a claim. Peer editing can be really shaky pizza. Side by side reading of writing seems like it would work
 * Next Step**

A type 1 or type 2 built into the curriculum one every other week in each discipline.

Do we need to adopt the Collins vocabulary mandated for all to use? (Teacher discretion?)

Look at the end result (publishable work) to use the tools to get to that end?

Hard to argue the writing skills are adequate, given that fact, how do you develop better writers. Can produce but they won’t necessarily improve their writing. Debrief