I've mentioned the improvement in our writing proficiency scores after using the Units of Study for Teaching Writing 6-8. While many of you may end up teaching at the Jr. High or High School level, these units are engaging lessons that form the building blocks for good writing. These would be just as useful in the 11th grade classroom. If you end up teaching pre-AP or AP classes, you'll follow different lessons, which will build right onto these. These units of study provide your students with the knowledge to not only assess their own writing (and peers), but to analyze the components of good writing that will be used in AP work. The only things I've NOT seen addressed in these units are the more advanced literary elements and the three artistic proofs of persuasive writing. Ms. Calkins is the head of the Teacher's College - Reading and Writing Project located at Columbia University. She is also the creator of the Reading Workshop and Writing Workshop programs taught there.
The Reading & Writing Project
Mini Lesson for Reader's Workshop on Perspective and POV (Video)
Lucy Conferencing with a Student Over His Memoir Piece of Writing (Video)
The Reading & Writing Project
Mini Lesson for Reader's Workshop on Perspective and POV (Video)
Lucy Conferencing with a Student Over His Memoir Piece of Writing (Video)