Improving Students′ Writing, K-8: From Meaning-Making to High Stakes!

"Purposeful, realistic . . . and clearly written....the book renews my excitement for teaching writing, and for new teachers, the text offers suggestions from a voice of experience-all within the framework of NCLB legislation for differentiating teaching based on learners' needs." -Julia Weinberg, Instructor University of Nevada, Reno Give students the power to express their thinking in writing and to use writing as a process for learning! How can we improve students' ability to write "constructed response" to high stakes content area test items? How can we open for them the writing pathway to exploring and understanding informational texts? How can we help them develop the essential traits of proficient writing? Nationally recognized experts in literacy with experience in elementary, middle school, and university classrooms as well as consulting expertise, Barone and Taylor meld theoretical and practical considerations about writing instruction to explain how to teach each child to: Self-monitor to improve writing skills Grow in ability to write successful constructed response Use writing to process and stretch their own thinking Prepare for high stakes writing assessment Improving Students' Writing, K-8 brings together real-life examples, rubrics, reproducible aids and how-to's for getting the most out of your writers.

Table of Contents:
Preface About the Authors 1. Writing to Learn and Understand Purposes for Writing Yesterday’s and Today’s Challenges Literacy Connections in Your Classroom The Three Hardest Parts About Helping Student Writers Writing Together as a Way of Communicating, Learning, and Meaning-Making 2. Writing About Information Informal Writing Formal Writing Connections Between Informational Text and Student Writing Reading Informational Text to Learn About Structure Final Thoughts 3. Narrative Writing Narrative Writing Writing Development Gender and Writing Informal Narrative Writing Formal Narrative Writing Final Thoughts 4. Writing With Purpose for Real Audiences Part of a Classroom Culture Writing for Real Audiences Writing for Real Purposes Analyzing Writing as a Craft Revision Responding to Writing Editing Writing With Reason 5. Preparing for High-Stakes Writing Assessments Historical Perspective Writing Assessment Methods Writing Assessment Tasks Helping Students With Trait-Scored Divergent and Convergent Assessment Items Product Versus Process Final Thoughts 6. Connecting Writing and Classroom Conversation Academic Conversations Final Thoughts Afterword Appendix References Index

About the Author :
Diane M. Barone is Professor Literacy Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno.  In her role at the university, she teaches courses in early literacy, diversity and literacy, and qualitative research.  Her research interests center on young children, especially in high poverty schools, and how they develop in literacy.  Her most current study followed 16 children from kindergarten through to Grade 6 to document their literacy growth.  She has been an editor of Reading Research Quarterly and has written numerous articles, book chapters, and books.  Some of her recent books include Reading First in the Classroom with Joan Taylor and Darrin Hardman, Literacy and Young Children: Research-Based Practices with Lesley Morrow, Teaching Early Literacy: Development, Assessment, and Instruction with Marla Mallette and Shelley Xu, and The National Board Certification Handbook.  She is also Principal Investigator for Reading First in Nevada and serves as a member of the board for the International Reading Association. Joan Taylor is a teacher-consultant who works with teachers and students in Title I schools in the Reno/Sparks area of Northern Nevada.  She recently completed a dissertation on A History of Written Composition Instruction in U.S. Elementary Schools.  Her research interests, in addition to historical and current perspectives on writing instruction, are focused on exploring teachers′ stories on learning and teaching. She has been a long-time middle school teacher in Washoe County Schools.  She is also Nevada State Networks Writing Project Co-Director, and during the past several years has authored a number of federally funded state literacy grants from the U.S. Department of Education totaling approximately $53 million.  These include the Nevada Reading Excellence Act and Nevada Reading First grants.

Review :
"Purposeful, realistic, throetically based...and clearly written by authors who appreciate bringing the joy of learning into the classroom. For experienced teachers, the book renews my excitement for teaching writing, and for new teachers, the text offers suggestions from a voice of experience-all within the framework of NCLB legislation for differentiating teaching based on learners′ needs."