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2024 Writing Tenets-Appendix B and Bibliography .docxThe KSDE Writing Tenets
The KSDE Writing Tenets
The following document includes 7 tenets for teachers and districts to use and follow for writing instruction throughout all curriculums and all grade levels. Writing should be explicitly taught in all grade levels and incorporated through all curriculums. Please read and review the Writing Tenets when developing writing instruction for all grade levels.
Writing Tip of the Month
Writing Tip of the Month
CLICK HERE to access a list of all strategies shared in previous ELA newsletters
Sentence Building Activity / Classroom Game
This activity can be easily modified and changed to fit any grade, class, or syntax element being taught or reinforced. It can be made as simple or complex as needed and can include any element you have been working on for sentence development. It can be used easily as a Kagan structure, as bell work, a competition, or exit ticket. I always made this activity a class competition between Kagan groups and used the time to reinforce the types of sentences and the differences between compound, complex, and compound-complex. It is also a great opportunity to discuss how to make sentences stronger by changing verbs, rearranging subordinate clauses, and adding in phrases. This activity has been used in classrooms of all ages; the rigor is driven by the the elements you determine must be added in.
Resources You Can Use Right Now!
They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing
They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing
This resource by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein is a book I have used for the past few years in my ELA classroom. It breaks down how to explicitly teach argument writing for students of all ages. The book emphasizes how students should structure clear, persuasive, and evidence based writing. It including signal phrases and templates, transition templates, and my favorite, the quote sandwich ouline. There are several versions of book available; The most recent is the 6th edition available for purchase, but, with the older versions available as pdf's online for teachers to access. It is a valuable resource in helping teach argument and persuasive writing.
What Works In Grammar Instruction by Deborah Dean
"People who understand language can make things happen. That is the point of grammar/language teaching. Not definitions. Not terminology. Language."
This book is a friendly and practical guide for teaching English grammar in the context of real, lived language. Veteran teacher educator Deborah Dean addresses the realities and challenges of grammar instruction with practical examples and her straightforward approach uncomplicates the task of teaching grammar in context, allowing her—and us—to share the excitement and wonder to be found in the study of language.
The Writing Revolution is as much a method of teaching content as it is a method of teaching writing. There’s no separate writing block and no separate writing curriculum. Instead, teachers of all subjects adapt TWR strategies and activities to their preexisting curriculum and weave them into their content instruction.
TWR breaks the writing process down into manageable chunks and then has students practice the chunks they need, repeatedly, while also learning content.
In July 2024 a second edition, The Writing Revolution 2.0, was published. by Judith C. Hochman and Natalie Wexler. Both of these books can be purchased through The Writing Revolution Website.
CLICK HERE to listen to the Science of Reading: The Podcast with Judith Hochman
There are several links to his online resources. Here are just a few:
Download the FREE PDF explaining the Four Moves
Is it a struggle to help students find accurate or credible information online? Do you need an accurate, easy method to help guide student research? Or looking for a source to teach students how to become smart digital consumers?
Mike Caulfield is a digital literacy expert known for developing the SIFT method, a simple yet effective approach to evaluating online information. SIFT stands for Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, and Trace claims to their original context. This method helps researchers, students, and everyday internet users quickly determine the reliability of information they encounter online. Unlike traditional fact-checking methods that require deep analysis, SIFT focuses on quick, strategic moves to assess credibility before investing too much time in misleading or false content. By following these four steps, users can navigate the vast amount of information on the internet with greater confidence and accuracy.
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