2-27-13

2-27-13 Facilitator Meeting Minutes

Report out in general from PLG groups:

Grade 9 Type 1- discussed criteria and want to know if Type 1 can be modified to fit MLA format? Type 2- discussed type 2 formatting as again being an issue… What is the ultimate goal of doing Collins writing? What is long-term vision? How often to do Type 1 & Type 2? Can we have different expectations at different grade levels? Can we have time in departments to work on Type 1 & Type 2? “Beating a dead horse”?

Grd 10 Should type 2 questions be multilayered? People seemed prepared to share type 2 Is iWalkthrough related to our writing work? Questions- should writing in foreign language be in English or the language? Do we use FCA’s in Type 2 writing? Can we get some feedback from the Collins institute?

Grd 11 Type 1- clarify- should we all use the format- type 1 & type 2 What is the long term vision? How & when should departments use Type 2? No big issues or questions People prepared to share type 2

Grd 12 “Beating a dead horse” Wide range of amount of use of type 1 & type 2 in the group makes some feel frustrated How will we build on middle school learning and be consistent Lots of discussion about purpose and grading of Type 1- type 1 is not graded and type 2 is graded- and what makes the Type 1 versus a Type 2 Overall format is not as important as the purpose of writing Discussed dilemma with someone’s Type 2 writing- positive outcome

Where should we go from here?- brainstorm -Provide templates for Type 1 and Type 2 writing for people to use -Write and send out a statement that reviews the purpose of implementing type 1 and type 2 writing, clarifies the expectations for the rest of 2013, and also clarifies the format of Type 1 and 2 writing

Expectations for teachers:
 * Follow the format as described by collins program- put title & name at top, skip lines (this is non-negotiable)
 * Use Type 1 & 2 writing as one tool out of many that you use in your classroom (like the literacy strategies)
 * Save at least 2 samples of type 1 and two samples of type 2 as examples of your work for the rest of the year (to be included in binder)

Purpose of this initiative:
 * Improve quality of student writing (testing scores and our own experience reading student writing show low performance/ weaknesses)
 * Increase frequency of writing in classroom
 * Meet our long term goal developed through accreditation of graduating students who can read (literacy strategies) and write (collins writing strategies) proficiently

Purpose of Collins Type 1 and Type 2 writing techniques:
 * improve writing skills
 * improve writing fluency
 * increase student engagement
 * prepare for types 3,4,5 writing
 * provide students with consistent writing assessments and formats so writing becomes more "natural"