The Write Tools for Common Core State Standards
The Write Tools now offers three workshops based on the Common Core text types:
Informative/Explanatory
Opinion/Argumentation
Narrative: Real or Imagined
Each workshop spans three days of professional development and includes a 500-page binder with reproducibles and a complimentary copy of The Write Tools Writing Software.
Contact our office to customize training for your school or district or attend one of our public workshops.
View Current Public Workshops and Onsite Workshops
Informative/Explanatory
The Write Tools for Common Core State Standards: Informative/Explanatory
This three-day training is your introduction to The Write tools. We develop the common language and basic strategies that lay the foundation for a school-wide approach to writing. The Informative/Explanatory workshop provides K-12 teachers with essential strategies and hands-on practice so they can immediately implement these instructional tools in their classrooms. This course will vigorously engage participants in reading and writing strategies and techniques designed to help teach the art informative/explanatory writing and reading informational text across the curriculum at all grade levels. Special attention will be given to how these strategies meet the rigors of the Common Core State Standards now used in nearly every state. The material covered will focus on the entire writing process, the organization of informational/explanatory text for both reading and writing purposes, and note-taking skills. Participants will examine the developmental stages of writing, learn and practice research proven strategies and techniques for teaching informational/explanatory writing skills from sentence building, to paragraphs, to multiparagraph and compare and contrast essays.
The Informative/Explanatory workshop includes:
1 Day: Writing
Intro to CCSS for ELA
6+1 Traits
Writing Demonstration
Writing Routine for Paragraphs: Specific Strategies for Informative/Explanatory Paragraphs
- Planning
- Drafting
- Revising
- Editing
- Publishing
Guided Practice
Independent Practice
Classroom Stories
Student Samples
Research/Data
1 Day: Writing and Compare/Contrast Writing
Review of Writing Process
Writing Next Research
Writing Demonstration
Writing Routine for Essays: Specific Strategies for Informative/Explanatory Essays
- Planning
- Drafting
- Revising
- Editing
- Publishing
Compare/Contrast Writing
Best Practices for Writing
Guided Practice
Independent Practice
Classroom Stories
Students Samples
Research/Data
1 Day: Responding to Informational Text
Writing to Read
Specific Strategies for Close Reading of Informational Text:
- Responding to Text
- Annotating/Highlighting Text
- Text Discussion Protocols
- Summarizing Text
- Note Taking
Practice
Independent Practice
During the three day training we will also discuss:
Assessment
Current Writing Research
Sample Lessons for Students
The Write Tools Writing Software (all binders complementary teacher copy)
Writing to Prompts
Our trainers model Best Practices in Writing throughout our three day workshops. The Workshop includes writing demonstrations, collaborative work, specific strategy instruction is step by step, and easy to follow. Participants practice all strategies in class—hands on and a lot of discussion. Teachers will leave with a 500+ page binder that will provide a wealth of resources as they return to their classroom with the confidence that they are well prepared to be teachers of writing!
Opinion Argumentation
The Write Tools for Common Core State Standards: Opinion Argumentation
This three-day workshop will actively engage participants in writing strategies and techniques designed to teach the art of opinion/argumentative writing. This important and unique genre of writing is often included on district and state writing assessments and is part of the Common Core State Standards that have been adopted by most states. Teachers will leave the workshop with proven strategies and common language around what is frequently a difficult process for students.
The Opinion/Argumentation workshop includes:
1 Day: Opinion Paragraph Writing
Intro to CCSS for ELA
6+1 Traits
Writing Demonstration
Writing Routine for Opinion Paragraph: Specific Strategies for Opinion Paragraphs
- Planning
- Drafting
- Revising
- Editing
- Publishing
Guided Practice
Independent Practice
Classroom Stories
Student Samples
Research/Data
1 Day: Argumentative Writing
Review of Writing Process
Writing Next Research
Clarification of CCSS language/expectations for Argumentation
Writing Demonstration
Definition of Argumentative Writing
Persuasion vs. Argumentation
Understanding Terminology
Point of View
Claims/Counterclaims
Ethos, Pathos, Logos Arguments
Guided Practice
Independent Practice
Classroom Stories
Students Samples
Research/Data
1 Day: Research Papers and Projects
CCSS Expectations for Research
Close Reading of Informational Text
Writing Demonstration
Developing Research Questions
Selecting Appropriate Sources
- Traditional
- Internet
MLA Research Standards
Notetaking
Organizing a Research Project
Works Cited Page
Guided Practice
Independent Practice
Projects for Younger Students
During the three day training we will also discuss:
Assessment
Current Writing Research
Sample Lessons for Students
The Write Tools Writing Software (all binders complementary teacher copy)
Writing to Prompts
Our trainers model Best Practices in Writing throughout our three day workshops. The workshop include writing demonstrations, collaborative work, specific strategy instruction is step by step, and easy to follow. Participants practice all strategies in class—hands on and a lot of discussion. Teachers will leave with a 500+ page binder that will provide a wealth of resources as they return to their classroom with the confidence that they are well prepared to be teachers of writing!
Narrative—Real and Imagined
The Write Tools for Common Core State Standards: Narrative—Real and Imagined
This three-day course will actively engage participants in writing strategies and techniques designed to teach the art of narrative writing both real and imagined. This important and unique genre of writing is often included on district and state writing assessments and is an integral part of the Common Core State Standards that have been adopted by most states. Three days will be devoted to this mode of writing that includes imaginative narrative, real narrative, responding to literature and language. There will be a focus on the full writing process, as well as the organization and essential elements of narrative writing. We will also discuss the organization and elements of fiction necessary for a well-balanced and entertaining narrative built around the six traits of writing.
The Narrative workshop includes:
1 Day: Imaginative Narrative Writing
Intro to CCSS for ELA
6+1 Traits
Writing Demonstration
Connecting Reading to Writing
Elements of Fiction
Writing Routine for Narrative-Imagined: Specific Strategies for Imaginative Narrative
- Planning
- Drafting
- Revising
- Editing
- Publishing
Guided Practice
Independent Practice
Classroom Stories
Student Samples
Research/Data
1 Day: Real Narrative Writing
Writing Demonstration
Connecting Reading to Writing
Elements of Fiction
Writing Routine for Narrative Real: Specific Strategies for Real Narratives
- Planning
- Drafting
- Revising
- Editing
- Publishing
Guided Practice
Independent Practice
Classroom Stories
Student Samples
Research/Data
1 Day: Responding to Literature/Language
Writng to Read
Specific Strategies for Close Reading of Literature
Responding to Text
- Summarizing Fiction
- Answering Short Constructed Responses for Literature
- Answering Extended Construct Responses for Literature
Strategies for Reading and Analyzing Poetry
Strategies for Building Vocabulary
Guided Practice
Independent Practice
Classroom Stories
Student Samples
Research/Data
During the three day training we will also discuss:
Assessment
Current Writing Research
Sample Lessons for Students
The Write Tools Writing Software (all binders complementary teacher copy)
Writing to Prompts
Our trainers model Best Practices in Writing throughout our three day workshops. The workshop includes writing demonstrations, collaborative work, specific strategy instruction is step by step, and easy to follow. Participants practice all strategies in class—hands on and a lot of discussion. Teachers will leave with a 500+ page binder that will provide a wealth of resources as they return to their classroom with the confidence that they are well prepared to be teachers of writing!