Writing+Professional+Development+December+10,+2007


 * SCPS-Professional Development at Lake Orienta--Pat Goldman – 12/10/07**
 * Attendees:** 4th Grade Team and Leadership Team
 * Topic:** Elaboration

NOTE: Copies of an example essay were given to all attendees. It was broken down and analyzed with the following information:

__Beginning Paragraph:__ Topic Sentence - Two to Three Details (Facts) Elaboration (Time, Words, or Phrase) Concluding Sentence (Opinion)

__Non-Examples:__ Elaboration about things unrelated to the topic sentence. Elaboration is not finished and leads to a different story.

Use examples of student work that address the proper way to elaborate.

__Suggestions:__ Planning sheets and a sample paper with key lines and reminders were given to attendees. This was used as an example of how to show students what types of things needed to be in any essay they write (ie..In conclusion, hook, In addition). Using the same type of paper used on FCAT Writes+ will get students accustomed to seeing the format. Take a sheet of construction paper, fold in half, and put planning sheet (colored paper) in with paper clip. Create a series of prompts and type out on provided paper in packet. Insert a prompt printed on this paper when practicing essay writing. This will again mimic the FCAT testing format.

__Pre-writing:__ Narrative essay format: Narrative prompts; assessors are looking for a problem to solve. Students need to create a problem and look for solutions to their narrative essay. Have two solutions (a good solution-happy and a not so good solution-sad).

__Action:__ 4th grade teachers talked about what they are doing now for certain students concerning modeling and outlining students’ essay writing. Teachers have targeted students to use specific transition words to use consistently. Keep conclusion short and sweet.

This information has been implemented in the classroom already. Lombardi and Fareed have been trained through Pat previously and continue to use these practices in the classroom. They have also shared this with their team whom also use these strategies. Pat will do model lessons in each classroom today to solidify and clarify the best practices for writing are being taught.

This page has been edited {$pagerevisions} times. The last modification was made by user:{$revisioneditor} on {$revisiondate}