October 26, 2015 Vinalhaven Writing Committee Meeting #1

The writing committee met on October 26, 2015.  They identified the following areas to focus on based on    

student performance.

Students need to:

•  be able to describe their thinking process when writing - including the rationale for evidence.
• be fluent writers able to write for sustained periods of time.
•  be able to revise their work.
•  be able to score their own writing on appropriate rubrics.
• be able to understand and apply grammar.

Teachers need to:

• develop a common vocabulary around writing across all content areas and grades.
• develop a common set of annotations for writing across all content areas and grades.
• develop a common set of proofreading annotations for writing across all content areas and grades.

Next Steps:

The writing committee will:

• use Calkins' Writing Pathways to collect writing samples and look for trends throughout the year at the Vinalhaven School.
• Create rubrics for use.
• Create a writing continuum for Vinalhaven School to
  
  serve as a framework for the writing program.

Our next meeting will be held in November - on the 12th or 13th (Amanda is taking a poll).  The entire committee will meet that day to look at narrative samples.

Thanks go to:  Helena, Mae, Robb, Missy, Hilary, and Cherie for all of their hard work.