Transcription
We need to teach ourstudents to read likewriters . and write likereaders .Kelly Gallagher
Focus Writing Prompt:When I was in school,writing was .
LMSD Interschool CouncilPresentationOctober 8, 2013Barbara GiorgioSupervisor of SecondaryHumanities
Lower Merion/PAWLPPartnership a 3 year plan to develop andimplement a consistent, research-based6-12 writing program with effectiveinstructional practices
Statement of need:We have a Strategic Plan goal ofestablishing a 6-12 Writing Program.Pa Core Standards place equal weight onreading and writing (as opposed toprevious PDE standards in which writingwas not emphasized).
Statement of need continued Currently, the amount of writing taught andpracticed is dependent on individualteachers.Philosophies and strategies around writinginstruction are highly varied.Without unified teacher training and acommon program, this inconsistentapproach to writing instruction willcontinue.
Why not purchase a research-basedprogram and provide professionaldevelopment for teachers?PaCSS call for secondary students to be able towrite with sophistication of skill and thought.A program is a tool which cannot besuccessfully utilized without teacher training,investment, and experience. If we trainteachers in researched best practice, we candevelop a program tailored to our needs.
How can our teachers develop aprogram when there is currently solittle continuity?They must first become well-versed in theresearch of what constitutes quality writing andinstruction of writing.Pennsylvania Writing and Literature Projecthas been helping teachers acquire thatknowledge and best practice for 33 years.
PAWLPOne of the longest standing branches (amongover 200 nationally) of the National WritingProject (began in 1974 and the founding sourcefor the “teachers-training-teachers model” ofprofessional development).NWP Mission:a future where every person is anaccomplished writer, engaged learner, andan active participant in a digitalinterconnected world.
NWP/PAWLP Core PrinciplesWriting can and should be taught, not justassigned, at every grade level.Knowledge about the teaching of writing comesfrom many sources: theory & research, analysisof practice, and the experience of writing.There is no single right approach to teachingwriting: however, some practices prove to bemore effective than others.
Core principles continued Teachers who are well informed and effective intheir practice can be successful teachers ofother teachers as well as partners ineducational research, development andimplementation.
PAWLP PartnershipOngoing professional development for teachersand administrators both at WCU and also indistrictSummer Institutes which produceFellows/Teacher ConsultantsTurn-around Training of teachers by teachersLeadership in development of writing programtailored to Lower Merion
Current LM PAWLP Fellows:Barbara GiorgioDr. Lorraine DeRosaLee Reilly (BCMS)**Janet Chung (WVMS)**Jennifer Swetland (WVMS)Barbara Ransom (HHS)Patricia Roessner (HHS)Sarah Ortiz (PWES)Judy Allison (GES)****We have sponsored via this initiative
LMSD Teachers Currently enrolled:BCMS:Andy Tzbari – Social StudiesDr. Rachel Nichols – Gifted EducationJennifer Ward – Literacy SpecialistAmanda Groen – EnglishJeffrey Lee – EnglishMoira Messick – CommuniquLMHSChad Henneberry – Social Studies‘Brian Mays – EnglishJean Mastriano - English
LMSD Teachers Currently enrolled:continued WVMS:Kenneth Vaughn – Social StudiesMiriam Dubashi – EnglishBetsy Lawley – EnglishHHS:Chris Santa Maria – Social StudiesMatt Scullen – Social StudiesDonald Plump - English
3 year Planguided by:Dr. Mary Buckelew, PAWLP DirectorandBarbara Giorgio
Year 1: 2013-14Support as many teachers as possible inbecoming Fellows of PAWLP andoffering PRP and other opportunitiesBegin work of Writing Committeecomprised of in-district PAWLP FellowsWork closely with Dr. Leslie Pratt andDr. Rachel Nichols
Professional Development (PRP)Summer 2013: 2 2-day WritingAcademies with Dr. Andy Fishman,former Director of PAWLP and authorof PDE Writing Domains & Rubric, andBarbara GiorgioPRP’s offered for cross-curricular literacylearningTeachers attend literacy workshops etc. atPAWLP and elsewhere
Year 2Continue to send teachers to PAWLPInstituteContinue LM PAWLP writing academyLM PAWLP Fellows share withcolleaguesWriting Program Development
Year 3Fall: Finalize writing of programAlign with K-5 Writing ProgramSpring: Begin implementation
We need to teach ourstudents to read likewriters . and write likereaders .Kelly Gallagher
accomplished writer, engaged learner, and an active participant in a digital interconnected world. NWP/PAWLP Core Principles Writing can and should be taught, not just assigned, at every grade level. . students to read like writers . and write like readers . Kelly Gallagher.
