Writing
Introduction
Good morning and purpose of the meeting: Educators gathered to discuss student writing needs.
Importance of thinking about specific students or teachers supported in writing.
Goals of the session: Identify student needs and explore resources to support those needs in writing.
Identifying Student Needs
Discussion prompts: Reflect on needs seen in students regarding writing; partner discussions encouraged.
Focus on self-reflection, revising, and editing within the writing process.
Importance of strategies to help students succeed in writing and build confidence.
Framework Overview
Introduction of the TIMITI project and its use of graphic organizers.
Explanation of a "meta script" to guide teacher language during lessons.
The emphasis on consistent terminology and modeling for instructional clarity.
Graphic Organizers
Description of a standard and modified graphic organizer utilized in writing instruction.
Modified versions are necessary to cater to the needs of special education students.
Importance of building a foundation with simpler versions of graphic organizers to empower students.
Writing Process
Emphasis on the writing process: modeling writing, self-regulation, and goal setting.
Introduction of self-regulation plans and checklists to aid students in writing tasks.
Encouraging follow-through on revising and editing tasks as a crucial part of writing.
Goal Setting in Writing
Discuss setting realistic and manageable goals for writing assignments.
Importance of focusing on two primary goals to prevent overwhelm.
Example of a goal-setting chart for visual tracking of student progress in writing.
Differentiated Goal Setting
Differentiation of goals for students based on performance and independence in writing.
Use of class snapshot charts to plan varied approaches based on students' needs.
Importance of using differentiation fluidly within the classroom settings.
Instructional Strategies
Series of booster lessons for when majority of the class requires support in specific writing skills.
Teachers use lessons like paraphrasing to enhance writing skills relevant to classroom tasks.
Emphasis on preparing students through front-loading strategies for upcoming writing tasks.
Text Talk Method
Teaching students to write concise notes by modeling effective summarization techniques.
Importance of meaningful details in notes without overwhelming students.
Examples from personal experience to illustrate effective note-taking strategies.
Tools and Resources
Overview of useful educational tools such as reworks and teaching resources geared toward middle school.
Discussion of graphic organizers and lesson plans for various writing genres (argumentative, persuasive).
Important professional development resources like the Iris module for educators.
Conclusion
Open invitation for questions and reflections on implementation in personal teaching contexts.
Reminder of the availability of instructional videos and supportive resources.
Encouragement for educators to reach out for further assistance or information.