Best-of-Smekens Writing Conference:
Writing Remix 2019
SECRET SITE
SESSION 1
Decode the Writing Prompt
101 Strategies to Make Vocabulary Stick
Similar-looking questions produce different answers based on the academic vocabulary.
Access an editable PowerPoint template or Google Sheets to type in the key terms and simple definitions your students need.
These close-reading questions include the academic vocabulary seen on standardized tests.
Common Core Reading Warm-Ups: Grades 3-8 offers passages with corresponding questions and tips for decoding the academic vocabulary in the questions.
Decode prompts using a 4-step process
“Decode the Prompt” mini-lesson
Mini-Lesson Resources: PDF | Smartboard
This Teaching Channel video introduces the parts of an essay, including how to rework the prompt to serve as the introduction.
Write to the Test Lady™ when no audience is identified
Access additional resources with after-reading writing prompts
Achieve the Core offers dozens of mini-assessments.
Access grade-level passages that include close-reading questions and a variety of after-reading writing tasks.
SESSION 2
Follow 5 Steps to Make an Inference
Model how to make an inference
Print Silhouette Template.
Purchase Chart Sense K-2 | 3-8.
Practice putting clues together
Soft House | Template
SESSION 3
Strengthen Short Constructed-Response Writing
Follow a constructed-response formula
Write the 1st sentence
Access resources
PDF version | Smartboard
Write the 2nd & 3rd sentences
Write the 4th sentence
Practice writing constructed responses
Utilize these templates to fine-tune the four-sentence constructed response.
SESSION 4
Generate Long Extended Responses Based on Reading
Combine details to synthesize new ideas
Synthesize from Multiple Sources mini-lesson
PDF | Smartboard
Small-Group Activity on Christopher Columbus
Blend evidence and elaboration
Supersize Yes, MA’AM to craft an extended response
The Yes, MA’AM strategy can be adapted to fit the requirements of an extended reading response.
Provide frequent experience with simulated research tasks
Use the Writing About Reading Frames to provide students the needed support to respond to research-task prompts.
Achievethecore.com offers dozens of authentic text excerpts with text-dependent questions and extended-response prompts for free. Each is labeled by grade-level appropriateness and also comes with suggested lesson plans.
Simulate research-writing tasks during eLearning. This practice helps to prepare students for similar experiences they will encounter on standardized assessments.
Explain the introduction
This Teaching Channel video introduces the parts of an essay, including how to rework the prompt to serve as the introduction.
SESSION 5
Refine the Definition of Textual Evidence
Create an evidence-rich classroom
Purchase Close-Reading Questions for Informational Text and Literature.
Problem #1 Response lacks evidence
Remain neutral when asking How do you know? Have questions ready to encourage students to refer back to the text.
Problem #2 Response is not rooted in the text(s)
Provide explicit instruction on how to weave the what, which, and where details into a textual citation.
Problem #3 Response just provides details, not evidence
Listen to Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” as a whole class.
Print lyrics for Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” for each student to have a copy.
Sort cut-apart lyrics based on the claim: This song is motivational.
Problem #4 Responses lack explanation of the evidence
Say/Mean T-Chart | Word document | PDF document | Notebook document
Fine-tune understanding with the Bullseye Strategy
Identify the Best Answers. Use the Bullseye Strategy to help students discern among multiple answers which one(s) best answer the question.
Link to the resources
PDF | Smartboard
Promethean | Google doc
Katie Powell (Southmont Jr. High School, Crawfordsville, IN) used floor tape that doesn’t leave sticky residue. She gave “answer” cards to each group and asked them to place the cards face down in the target. After all answers were placed, the class had a “big reveal.”