Writing+Across+the+Curriculum

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Charlie Copeland here ... I am assuming some responsibility to help design a Writing Across the Curriculum component for the SLC grant.

//What and Why//
The World History group and the U.S. History group are beginning a collaboration with Stacia, Amy, Julie, and Amy to discover common standards, common vocabulary, et cetera.

//How//
I propose that we adopt the DuFour model. The sequence would look someting like this ...

What do we want the students to know?

 * What are the standards of writing, as they apply to 10th and 11th grade students.
 * How can we write those standards as learning targets?
 * What, in general, is the sequence of development?
 * How can we turn that sequence into a pacing guide?

How will we know when they know it?

 * We need to develop simple, easy to use rubrics. Teachers must be able to complete a classroom set of papers in half an hour, or less!
 * Writing tasks must target specific writing skills, not all writing skills.
 * Students must be taught to self-edit.

What will we do when they don't?

 * We should develop a consistent method of purposeful rewriting.
 * Here's where additional collaboration will be essential.
 * We need to remediate effectively, so that entire classes stay onthe pacing guide while individual students get the remedial help they need.
 * This may lead naturally to use of the learning center.

What will we do when they know it?

 * Meaningless question! Writing is a skill which is never fully mastered.

//First steps ...//

 * 1) 1 - Learn how to use Liz's Wiki more effectively.
 * 2) 2 - Start collecting writing standards.