Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Lucy Calkins’ Writing Pathways: Performance Assessments & Learning Progressions, K-8.

Don’t have a copy? Blog if you want to enter our raffle for a free copy!

Part 1 Chapters 1-3 Highlights that jumped out at me…
Ch. 1  Assessment Toolkit
* checklists to raise student and teaching level & students improve in a matter of weeks-intriguing!
* checklists, rubrics, and benchmark texts derived from Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
Effective formative tools as students are actively engaged & transfer skills from one type of writing to another

Ch. 2  1st Step: Conducting On-Demand Performance Assessments
* Begin day 1 by inviting kids show off their writing- they’ll love that kind of invitation!
* Teach the Writer not the Writing- love that advice, don't you?
* Important for teachers across grade levels to agree on a plan- same grade level prompt and same genre assessed
* Kids given heads up day before to be ready to write about a topic they know for 45 minutes and invited to bring resources- that will boost kids’ confidence!
 FAQ is helpful!

Ch. 3  The Norming Meeting and Subsequent Scoring: Developing Shared Expectation
 Lucy gives positive support for working as a group and alone to get magnificent growth!

What did you take away or what jumped out at you? Can’t wait to hear from you!

Cheers,
Lynn Gurnee,

CRA Past Pres.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

CRA’s New Summer Book Blog Begins Next Week!

We’re reading Lucy Calkins’ Writing Pathways: Performance Assessments and Learning Progressions, Gr. K-8. Need a copy? Blog if you want to enter our raffle for a free copy!

Educators can easily earn a semester unit for only $60. You need only complete three blogs.  Our blog has been viewed 5,317 times this year for a reason!

Plus, you can always review past book club blogs on Lori Oczkus’ "...Close Reading and Comprehension of Informational Text" or CafĂ© by The Two Sisters. You may comment on these past blogs to earn your semester unit.  (Lucy and Lori will be keynoters at CRA’s Riverside PDI Oct. 23-24)!

Here’s our schedule for Lucy Calkins’ Writing Pathways: Gr. K-8.

In July, we’ll read and discuss Part 1 Chapters 1-3:
Ch. 1  Assessment Toolkit
Ch. 2  1st Step: Conducting On-Demand Performance Assessments
Ch. 3  The Norming Meeting and Subsequent Scoring: Developing Shared Expectations

In the first half of August, we’ll read and discuss Part 1 Ch. 4-6:
Ch. 4  Using Early Results to Plan & Adapt Your Writing Curriculum
Ch. 5  Self Assessment Checklists: The What, the Why, and the How
Ch. 6  Tracking Data: On-the-Run and Formally

In the last half of August, we’ll read and discuss Part 1 Ch. 7-9:
Ch. 7  Teaching Informed by the Learning Progressions
Ch. 8  Supporting Transference across the Content Areas
Ch. 9  Designing Reading-Writing Performance Assessments

In the first part of September, we’ll read and discuss Opinion/Argument Writing.

In the last part of September, we’ll read and discuss Information Writing.

In the first part of October, we’ll read and discuss Narrative Writing and wrap up the book club before Lucy comes to CRA’s PDI on Riverside on Oct. 23-24. Hope to see you there!

Why wait?  Start blogging today! Lynn Gurnee, CRA Past President
(Having trouble? Need more info. for college credit? Email lynn@gurnee.org)