Shifts in Writing Instruction

Lucy Calkins helped guide our uncertainty when it came to the shift in instruction under common core with her book Pathways to Common Core. She states, "As challenging as it must have been to write and finesse the adoption of the Common Core State Standards, that accomplishment is nothing compared to the work of teaching in ways that bring all students to these ambitious expectations. The goal is clear. The pathway is not." 
This book was our starting point a few years ago and read at the building level to help staff begin unpacking the standards and understand the key shifts with instructional implications. It was only natural that we returned to her resources when struggling to figure out what writing should look like.  
Because our curriculum units are collaboratively designed by teachers across the district, writing conversations within planning meetings included the benefits of using her resources by teachers in other buildings. Mrs. Pianalto, a first grade teacher passionate about writing, approached me about the Units of Study resources to support our writing instruction. Our journey with her resources began during our back-to-school professional development where I highlighted many common concerns with writing and how her resources could begin to bridge the instructional gaps. Some of the obstacles I see these resources helping to tackle are:

1. I want to communicate expectations to my students in a way they can understand and use when the current rubric doesn't.
2. How can I make sure my writing workshop supports common core standards?
3. I don’t understand the writing process for my students several grade levels behind?
4. Help me know specific skills my kids should be able to do throughout the year to reach end of the year standards.
5. I need grade level common core writing samples for all three types of writing from a credible source.
6. I always need more examples of anchor charts and annotated student work.
7. I’m out of ideas for specific feedback and next steps for my students
8. Sharing resources is difficult.

As an instructional facilitator, I continuously look for solutions to problems. During our professional development, I was able to address these concerns and point to resources. We found that the Writing Pathways Book (in each grade level set) includes student-friendly checklists for each domain of writing at grade levels K-5. A Common Core alignment is given on the back cover of each of the 4 writing area books. Writing Pathways shows grade specific alignment of the writing process learning progression K-8 throughout the year based on CCSS’ Levels of Proficiency. In the Writing Pathways book, you can see grade level samples across level in each of the areas of writing as well as annotated writing samples organized by type of writing and grade level. If...Then...Curriculum organizes student or conferring group descriptor, suggested conversation/strategy, and an artifact to leave with the student in their notebook when conferring with writers. To help make materials easy to access, a Google folder was shared with staff that organizes checklists, student samples, anchor chart examples, continuums, etc. by grade level.

The hunger for these resources was amplified as teachers incorporated further study with these books into professional growth plans and PLCs. This step is only the prologue as our journey has just begun, but I appreciate the teacher enthusiasm and the feedback I have received in just a short time. I can't wait to continue these words with teacher and student success.