Writing Across the Curriculum DeKalb High/Middle School

Objectives To examine the Common Core State Standards and their focus on writing To discuss Writing Across the Curriculum—what it is and its benefits To create writing activities that will help our students learn and improve their writing skills

Common Core Standards Standards developed for K-12 in Math and English Language Arts (ELA) Forty-five states have adopted these standards Missouri has adopted; plan to implement school year (National Governors Assoc. for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010)

Common Core Standards ELA standards include – Literature & informational text – Foundational skills – Writing skills – Speaking & Listening Skills – Language Skills (National Governors Assoc. for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010)

A Writing ELA Standard

So…why are we looking at the Common Core Standards?

To see what writing skills our students are expected to have in ALL classes, not just English class.

Common Core Standards ELA standards also include literacy in – Science – Social Studies – History – Technical Subjects (National Governors Assoc. for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010)

Example: Social Studies/ History/ Science/ Tech Subj. (National Governors Assoc. for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010)

Comparison of Two Standards English Writing “Write arguments to support claims in an analysis…” “Introduce claims…” “Develop claims/counterclaims…” “Use words, phrases, and clauses to link…” “Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone…” “Providing a concluding statement…” History/Science/Tech “Write arguments focused on discipline- specific content.” “Introduce claims…” “Develop claims/counterclaims…” “Use words, phrases, and clauses to link…” “Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone…” “Providing a concluding statement…” (NGABP & CCSS, 2010)

The Only Difference… “Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.” “Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.” Not much difference! (NGABP & CCSS, 2010)

Let’s Evaluate 5-10 minutes: Look through the ELA standards and see how many standards ask for students to write or use processes that can involve writing.

Share What are some of the standards that ask students to write or use processes that involve writing?

How can we improve our students’ writing skills and prepare them for the Common Core?

Writing Across the Curriculum The Answer:

What is WAC? Learning to Write – Working on writing skills Writing to Learn – Using writing to learn new material In ALL disciplines (McLeod, 1987; McLeod & Maimon, 2000)

Benefits of WAC Provides students with writing practice Great learning tool for students Works on students’ critical thinking skills Shows students’ learning, thought- processes, and misunderstandings (McLeod, 1987; McLeod & Maimon, 2000)

Fears vs. Solutions Fears Lack of expertise Take time away from own content to teach writing More grading Evaluation processes Solutions Don't focus on grammar Write along with students Collaborate with teachers Stagger big writing assignments Small writing assignments just as beneficial as big ones Evaluate only one-two elements of writing Don’t grade everything! (Borchers, 2001; Fincke, 1982; Graham, Gillespie, & McKeown, 2012; Graves, 1995; Gribbin, 1991; Kinloch, 2009)

Some Strategies Journals/Diaries/Logs Write for a Real Audience Write Daily Freewriting/Focused Freewriting (See Handout for More) (Jacobs, 2002; Moss 1991)

Example: Character Tweet Student Response:

Example: Response Journal

Your Turn to Share What are 1-2 writing activities you currently use in your classroom? How do these help your students learn material and/or work on their writing skills?

Create Writing Activities minutes: As a group, come up with some activities that teachers (either discipline-specific or across the board) can use in their classrooms that will help students to learn and practice their writing skills.

Evaluate Ideas What activities did you come up with? How do they help students learn? How do they work on students’ writing skills? Can they relate back to any of the Common Core State Standards?

For Effective Activities Teachers should… Model Writing Provide Expectations Clearly Provide Feedback/Conference Focus Less on Conventions (Borchers, 2001; Fincke, 1982; Graham, Gillespie, & McKeown, 2012; Graves, 1995; Gribbin, 1991; Kinloch, 2009; Moss, 1991)

Overview Our students need the opportunity to write, not only to improve these skills but to also prepare them for the CCSS Writing Across the Curriculum provides students with the opportunity to write often to practice those skills WAC also provides students with writing as a tool for learning

Bibliography Borchers, D. L. (2001). Writing across the curriculum: A simple approach to correcting. New England Reading Association Journal, 37(2), Fincke, G. (1982). Writing across the curriculum in high school. The Clearing House, 56(2), Graham, S., Gillespie, A., & McKeown, D. (2012). Writing: importance, development, and instruction. Reading and Writing, 26(1), Graves, D. H. (1995). Be a better writing teacher. Education Digest, 60(9), Gribbin, W. G. (1991). Writing across the curriculum: Assignments and evaluations. The Clearning House, 64(6), Jacobs, V. A. (2002). Reading, writing, and understanding. Educational Leadership, 60(3),

Bibliography Kinloch, V. (2009). Innovative writing instruction. The English Journal, 98(5), Maimon, S. M. (2000). Clearing the air: WAC myths and realities. College English, 62(5), McLeod, S. (1987). Defining writing across the curriculum. WPA: Writing Program Administration, 11(1-2), Moss, B. (1991). Promoting reading and writing in the middle- grade content-area classroom. The Clearing House, 65(1), National Governors Association for Best Practices, C. o. (2010). Common core standards. Washington, D.C.: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers. Retrieved from Common core state standards initiative.