OF THE WEEK
Help your students become stronger writers with 40 weeks of standards-based writing to ignite creativity and foster growth in argumentative, narrative, expository, and descriptive writing.
You want ready-to-use materials that require no prep but still engage your students in rigorous writing that meets all your writing and language standards.
You are a middle or high school English language arts teacher who will be teaching writing.
who this program is for.
If this sounds like you, then you are in the right place.
BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THE DETAILS, LET'S TALK ABOUT
SO, HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?
1. MUSINGS MONDAY
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Mondays are for free writing, where students let their thoughts flow freely into a rough draft without worrying about grammar, structure, etc. Each of the writing prompts are highly-creative and intentionally chosen for each of the four writing types: argumentative, descriptive, expository, and narrative.
Each week, students will receive a thought-provoking prompt, inspiring them to craft a powerful paragraph in the style of one of the four writing types (argumentative, narrative, expository, and descriptive). Throughout the week, they will hone their writing skills by improving the paragraph’s language, grammar, organization, and more!
2. TRANSFORM TUESDAY
Tuesdays are when students learn and apply a new domain-specific, standards-based writing skill to their paragraph on the rough draft page. For example, students will learn and integrate skills for each of the writing types, such as showing vs. telling for descriptive, using the compare and contrast structure for expository, improving characterization in narrative, and using quotes from experts in the field for argumentative.
3. WORDSMITH WEDNESDAY
On Wednesdays, students learn and apply new ways to improve the language in their paragraph. For example, students will learn about the importance of elements like word choice, figurative language, and persuasive techniques. They will be given actionable steps to make these improvements directly in their drafted paragraphs. The tips are specific to the writing type for that week, but they are also widely applicable for strong writing in general.
4. TECHNICAL THURSDAY
Each Thursday, students learn and apply a new technical skill to their paragraph related to grammar, mechanics, or writing structure. For example, students will learn about comma rules, verb tense consistency, integrating quotes and dialogue, parallel structure, and much more. They will be prompted to revise their paragraphs, using what they have learned to make the necessary adjustments and bring their writing to the next level.
5. FINALIZING FRIDAY
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At the end of the week, students use a short checklist to do a final review of the most important elements of the week’s writing task and complete their final paragraph! On Fridays, students will always be asked to check their grammar and verify that their paragraphs on error free, and they will also be reminded to make adjustments according to specific tips from earlier in the week to bring their paragraph to its most polished form!
STUDENT RESPONSE PAGES
Students will use the weekly handouts to craft their weekly paragraph. The handouts include a space for their rough draft, daily tasks to improve their writing, and templates designed for students to use when writing their final versions of their paragraphs. A customized rubric is also included on the handouts to assess the specific skills and standards addressed that week.
