The Timed Writing System: Apples-to-Apples Comparisons and Evaluation I strongly urge teachers to use the Timed Writing System. You are going to get concrete results with Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay, you are going to be able to build on those...
You’ve just found a complete collection of “Common Core Writing Standards in Checklist and Table Form: Grades K-12.” You can download one set or download the entire collection! Standards are boring! But wait! They are also useful and important! Since the standards are...
Have you ever glanced at the paragraphing on a piece of student writing and had a gut reaction? How accurate was your gut reaction? My guess is that your gut reaction was surprisingly accurate. I did not say perfectly accurate or even accurate, just surprisingly...
Dale Carnegie, the famous personal development writer and speaker, once said, “People convinced against their will are of the same opinion still.” Well, the easiest way to convince students about everything in writing is to let them convince themselves. In fact,...
The Common Core State Standards (hereafter CCSS) use Three Text Types: 1. Informational/Explanatory Writing (Expository) 2. Narrative Writing 3. Argument Did you know that writers can blend together these three text types to create original and effective...
Are you confused about the many different types, kinds, and forms of writing? The best way to become clear is to first understand the Four Modes of Discourse. In his 1866 book, English Composition and Rhetoric, Alexander Bain introduced two models that have remained...
Preparing for the State Writing Assessment Do you have a state or district writing assessment just around the corner? Are you prepared? Are your students prepared? Hey, let’s not waste another second. Let’s get started! Wait a minute… is it too late? How much time do...
Where Do You Find Released Writing Prompts? Are you looking for a fabulous collection of released writing prompts from state writing assessments? Would 114 PAGES of these released writing prompts be enough? If so, you have landed on the right page! Below you will find...
It’s critical to review and familiarize your students with writing prompt keywords and structure before a state or district writing assessment. We aim to prevent our students from freezing like deer in headlights. Most writing prompts across all 50 states look much...
Teachers need to use their time wisely when teaching writing. Here is a great resource for making sure you are teaching what you are supposed to be teaching in the grade that you are supposed to be teaching it. Below are five sets of K-12 state writing standards. (If...
Do you have an elementary or middle school state or district writing assessment coming up? Or perhaps you simply want your students to write excellent essays? If so, read on! And if you teach beginning essay writers or struggling essay writers, be sure to check out...
How do you bring objectivity to teaching writing? Authentic student writing samples from state writing assessments are an excellent tool that helps teachers bring objectivity to teaching writing. Of course, it sure helps if the writing samples are accompanied by...
How familiar are you with your state content standards? What do you know about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) initiative? Here is your chance to get caught up. Below you will find links to all 50 states’ content standards. There are links to each state’s:...
Grade by grade, elementary mathematics expectations are clear-cut. Grade-by-grade writing expectations are more subjective. Looking at the “English–Language Arts Content Standards for California Public Schools” below, one can see why figuring out precisely what you...
State writing standards can be a little difficult to digest. The following combined list of elementary and middle school state writing standards provides an excellent overview of what is essential in both elementary and middle school writing. Pattern Based Writing:...
