Writing Learning Walks French Creek May, 2014
Introduction • Learning walkthroughs were conducted to assess the level of implementation for
the Calkins Units of Study in Writing in order to inform next steps in professional development.
• Regardless of the “numbers” that follow, there is a collective strength across FC classroom that promotes an authentic and meaning approach to the teaching of writing grades K-6!
• The information that follows should be used for PD in the 2014-15 school year. • The FC staff should be commended for their efforts to learn the new program and to implement such quality writing instruction!
Writing Mini-Lesson Components 100
95
87
90 80 70
91
95
82
81
70
60 48
50 40 30 20 10 0 Connection
Teaching Point
Active Engagement
Link
Jan-14 May-14
Writing Expectations, Objectives, & Resources 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
87
100
100 100
100
95
74
65
23 23
Objective Explicitly Stated
73
17
Expectations Students Write Students Use Students Use Graphic Meet Grade for a Real Word Taught Skill in Organizers are Level Purpose Wall/Spelling Notebooks Consistent Expectations Resource Across Grade Level
Jan-14 May-14
Summary of Feedback Strengths • Growth in the teaching of the mini-lesson components (In the teaching point of the lesson, only 4 lessons were observes as partially teaching and all others successfully implemented this step)
• • • •
High increase in the connection & linking portions of the mini-lesson. Lessons are planned around and meet grade level expectations. Students are using taught skills in notebooks. Increased consistency of lessons/graphic organizers across grade level.
Summary of Feedback Next Steps • Be clear about what you will teach writers and then show them (not asking students to show/explain first).
• The link needs to be clear to students in having them state what they will try in the workshop “today” through turn and talk (this is not explicit in Calkins, but until students become more used to the Units we should implement each mini-lesson.
• Personal word walls should be part of every notebook and reinforced consistently as a tool.