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...
Tips and Tricks for State Testing Writing Prompts Most writing prompts across all of the 50 states look very much alike. They have a similar structure, they use similar language, and they involve similar situations. While it’s true that writing prompts do change...
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...
The fastest, most effective way to teach students clear and organized multi-paragraph writing… Guaranteed!