[MOSAIC] Step Up to Writing

[Ron Borchert]

Our district has used Step Up to Writing for a long time for grades 1 - 12. 
It is an approach/program that stresses organization.  Students are taught 
to write a topic sentence, details, and explanations which are color coded. 
It also teaches summary paragraphs, transition words, accordion paragraphs 
and more.  Every teacher in our district has a Step Up to Writing binder 
that I think is available through Sopris West.  (Mine is at my office, so I 
am writing from memory.)  The district has trained teachers to be in-house 
trainers who provide in-service to new staff and on-going professional 
training.  I feel the biggest limitation to Step up to Writing is that it 
stifles voice and doesn't encourage students to take a risk when writing. 
On the writing portion of our state test we are finding that students are 
doing a great job in organization, but if they stick to a Step Up to Writing 
structure their score suffers in word choice and voice.  Our district also 
provides on going training in Six Traits.  We are just starting to 
in-service staff on Lucy Calkins' Units of Study.  Our district expects 
teachers to integrate Step Up to Writing, Six Traits, and Lucy Calkins in 
daily writing instruction, hopefully in a workshop setting.  If your 
students are weak in organization, it is  worth consideration.  The binder 
is a great resource of word lists, prompts, and teaching ideas.

Thank you,
Barbara Parry

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ljackson" <ljackson at gwtc.net>
To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" 
<mosaic at literacyworkshop.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 10:23 AM
Subject: [MOSAIC] Step Up to Writing


>I need some quick feedback from any persons familiar with this program. 
>Our district has the opportunity to include some related training, but I am 
>unsure how this fits with our currect expectations and goals for writing 
>instruction.  Is this a program?  Is this an approach?  Limitations? 
>Benefits?
>
> Lori
>
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