Using the Performance Standards for Personal Writing, all of the students in the school are writing one writing sample. This writing sample will provide the teachers with enough information to determine where to begin with their writing programs for the school year.
Prior to the actual writing, students are engaged in pre-writing activities: reading about the topic (autumn), talking about the topic in partners, gathering a group brainstorm web of ideas on the topic and building a criteria list defining good writing (see photos above), all of which can be used in the student writing.
Looking forward to a year of great writing at Rockheights!
