Whether your teachers are novices or veterans, Teaching the Qualities of Writing will increase their confidence and flexibility by focusing on the key characteristics all well-written pieces share. Developed with Ralph Fletcher and Joann Portalupi, this firsthand course shows how to meet individual and whole-class needs by weaving the qualities of writing into responsive minilessons.
Teaching the Qualities of Writing informs and energizes teacher's writing instruction by:
- examining the qualities of good writing and discovering how they effect student voice
- offering guidance on evaluating students' writing abilities
- demonstrating that the writing process proceeds fluidly according to student needs
- connecting evaluation of student work to instructional planning
- illustrating how the minilessons of Teaching the Qualities of Writing support writing workshop.
Course goals:
- Learn that the "steps" of the writing process are fluid according to student needs, and that these needs are met through the components of a writing workshop.
- Become comfortable with the qualities of good writing (ideas, design, language, and presentation) and learn how each quality affects voice in student writing.
- Develop an understanding of how to evaluate writing, and learn how to determine the next teaching point based on the quality of student work.