Writing Across the Curriculum DeKalb High/Middle School.

Writing Across the Curriculum

DeKalb High/Middle School

Objectives

• To examine the Common Core State Standards and their focus on writing

• To discuss Writing Across the Curriculum—what it is and its benefits

• To create writing activities that will help our students learn and improve their writing skills

Common Core Standards

• Standards developed for K-12 in Math and English Language Arts (ELA)

• Forty-five states have adopted these standards

• Missouri has adopted; plan to implement 2014-2015 school year

(National Governors Assoc. for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010)

Common Core Standards

• ELA standards include – Literature & informational text– Foundational skills–Writing skills– Speaking & Listening Skills– Language Skills

(National Governors Assoc. for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010)

(National Governors Assoc. for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010)

A Writing ELA Standard

So…why are we looking at the Common Core

Standards?

To see what writing skills our students are expected to

have in ALL classes, not just

English class.

Common Core Standards

• ELA standards also include literacy in– Science– Social Studies–History– Technical Subjects

(National Governors Assoc. for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010)

Example:Social Studies/History/Science/Tech Subj.(National Governors Assoc. for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010)

Comparison of Two StandardsEnglish Writing• “Write arguments to support

claims in an analysis…”• “Introduce claims…”• “Develop

claims/counterclaims…”• “Use words, phrases, and

clauses to link…”• “Establish and maintain a

formal style and objective tone…”

• “Providing a concluding statement…”

History/Science/Tech• “Write arguments focused on

discipline-specific content.”• “Introduce claims…”• “Develop

claims/counterclaims…”• “Use words, phrases, and

clauses to link…”• “Establish and maintain a

formal style and objective tone…”

• “Providing a concluding statement…”

(NGABP & CCSS, 2010)

The Only Difference…

• “Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.”

• “Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.”

Not much difference!

(NGABP & CCSS, 2010)

Let’s Evaluate

5-10 minutes:Look through the ELA

standards and see how many standards ask for students to write or use processes that

can involve writing.

Share

What are some of the standards that ask

students to write or use processes that involve

writing?

How can we improve our

students’ writing skills and prepare

them for the Common Core?

Writing Across the Curriculum

The Answer:

What is WAC?

• Learning to Write–Working on writing skills

• Writing to Learn–Using writing to learn new material

In ALL disciplines

(McLeod, 1987; McLeod & Maimon, 2000)

Benefits of WAC

• Provides students with writing practice

• Great learning tool for students• Works on students’ critical thinking

skills• Shows students’ learning, thought-

processes, and misunderstandings

(McLeod, 1987; McLeod & Maimon, 2000)

Fears vs. SolutionsFears• Lack of expertise 

• Take time away from own content to teach writing

• More grading

• Evaluation processes

Solutions• Don't focus on grammar• Write along with

students• Collaborate with

teachers• Stagger big writing

assignments• Small writing

assignments just as beneficial as big ones

• Evaluate only one-two elements of writing

• Don’t grade everything!

(Borchers, 2001; Fincke, 1982; Graham, Gillespie, & McKeown, 2012; Graves, 1995; Gribbin, 1991; Kinloch, 2009)

Some Strategies

• Journals/Diaries/Logs• Write for a Real Audience• Write Daily• Freewriting/Focused Freewriting• (See Handout for More)

(Jacobs, 2002; Moss 1991)

Example: Character Tweet

Student Response:

Example: Response Journal

Your Turn to Share

• What are 1-2 writing activities you currently use in your classroom?

• How do these help your students learn material and/or work on their writing skills?

Create Writing Activities

15-20 minutes:As a group, come up with some activities that teachers (either discipline-specific or across the

board) can use in their classrooms that will help students to learn and

practice their writing skills.

Evaluate Ideas

• What activities did you come up with?

• How do they help students learn?• How do they work on students’

writing skills?• Can they relate back to any of the

Common Core State Standards?

For Effective Activities

Teachers should…• Model Writing• Provide Expectations Clearly• Provide Feedback/Conference• Focus Less on Conventions

(Borchers, 2001; Fincke, 1982; Graham, Gillespie, & McKeown, 2012; Graves, 1995; Gribbin, 1991; Kinloch, 2009; Moss, 1991)

Overview

• Our students need the opportunity to write, not only to improve these skills but to also prepare them for the CCSS

• Writing Across the Curriculum provides students with the opportunity to write often to practice those skills

• WAC also provides students with writing as a tool for learning

BibliographyBorchers, D. L. (2001). Writing across the curriculum: A simple

approach to correcting. New England Reading Association Journal, 37(2), 11-13.Fincke, G. (1982). Writing across the curriculum in high school. The Clearing House, 56(2), 71-73.Graham, S., Gillespie, A., & McKeown, D. (2012). Writing:

importance, development, and instruction. Reading and Writing, 26(1), 1-15.Graves, D. H. (1995). Be a better writing teacher. Education

Digest, 60(9), 57-60.Gribbin, W. G. (1991). Writing across the curriculum: Assignments and evaluations. The Clearning House, 64(6), 365-368.Jacobs, V. A. (2002). Reading, writing, and understanding.

Educational Leadership, 60(3), 58-61. 

BibliographyKinloch, V. (2009). Innovative writing instruction. The English

Journal, 98(5), 103-107.Maimon, S. M. (2000). Clearing the air: WAC myths and realities. College English, 62(5), 573-583.McLeod, S. (1987). Defining writing across the curriculum. WPA: Writing Program Administration, 11(1-2), 19-24.Moss, B. (1991). Promoting reading and writing in the middle-

grade content-area classroom. The Clearing House, 65(1), 11-13.National Governors Association for Best Practices, C. o. (2010).

Common core standards. Washington, D.C.: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices &

Council of Chief State School Officers. Retrieved from Common core state standards initiative.