Improving Writing Instruction Through Close Study of Student Work
An instructional leader in a Bay Area school district shared a concerning trend last week – while reading scores have been on the rise for the past three years, writing proficiency has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. “Our biggest struggle lies in writing. The gaps start in English Language Arts (ELA), but they permeate into science and social studies as well,” the leader lamented.
This challenge isn’t unique to this particular district; schools all over California are grappling with the issue of improving writing skills across various subjects. The critical question arises – what can be done differently to address this persistent problem?
A New Approach to Writing Instruction
In their latest book, “Learning Together,” Elham Kazemi and his colleagues propose a novel solution – encouraging school leaders to collaborate with teachers in regularly analyzing student writing. By delving into a collection of informative essays or an extensive biology project, educators can make these tasks the focal point of grade-level planning meetings or district-wide professional development days.
One of the pioneers in this approach is Ron Berger, a co-founder of EL Education, a national non-profit organization dedicated to collaborating with K-12 educators to revamp their schools. Berger’s involvement in High Tech High’s Deeper Learning conferences in San Diego and his facilitation of over 300 workshops nationwide, all centered around closely examining student work, make him a respected figure in this field.
The Power of Model Work
Berger’s book, “Leaders of Their Own Learning,” recounts his experience coaching a high school physics teacher struggling with poorly written lab reports. Introducing the students to a well-crafted lab report model revealed a stark contrast in quality and precision, prompting the students to raise their standards. Despite the constant corrections, directions, and rubrics, Berger notes that students often lack clarity on what constitutes exemplary work until they see and dissect strong models.
Notably, Berger’s initiative with the support of the Hewlett Foundation and collaboration with Steve Seidel at Harvard University led to the creation of an online platform, “Models of Excellence.” This platform showcases 500 outstanding examples of student writing and projects from various regions, including California contributions like a Kids Guide to California National Parks by 2nd graders from Big Pine and a water quality analysis of Lake Merritt by 6th graders in Oakland.
Three Ways to Enhance Writing Instruction
1. **Form a Study Group:** Teachers and coaches can assemble their own collection of exceptional student writing models linked to specific criteria, utilizing rubrics and checklists from the Vermont Writing Collaborative. Encouraging students to analyze and name the qualities of great writing in their own words fosters a deeper engagement with the writing process.
2. **Get the Feedback Right:** Providing specific, constructive, and helpful feedback is crucial to guiding students on how to improve their work. Embracing a culture of multiple drafts and following the mantra “Be Kind, Be Specific, Be Helpful” can enhance the feedback process and facilitate student growth.
3. **Make Writing Visible:** Displaying curated student work throughout the school can inspire and motivate students to strive for excellence. By showcasing exemplary pieces, students gain a vision of what’s achievable, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.
In conclusion, the close examination of student work not only enhances the quality of writing but also cultivates a sense of possibility and aspiration within students. As Ron Berger aptly states, “Excellence is transformational,” and once students experience it, they are forever driven to reach higher standards.
