How to Achieve MultiYear Academic Gains in Student Writing

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How to Achieve Multi-Year Academic Gains in
Student Writing

• Tri-Cities Quality Forum
• November 7, 2006

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Presenter

• Peggy Ervin Elementary Classroom Teacher

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Writing Improvement Story Presented

• 2003 International Conference - Ottawa
• 2003 TN Dept. of Education Conference Nashville
  
• 2004 SACS Conference - Atlanta
• 2005 NQEC Conference - Miami

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Learning Outcomes

• Understand Root Cause / Remedy
• Understand Plan for Writing Gains
• Understand Use of Writing Prompts
• See Examples of Writing Tools
• Understand Teamwork

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Profile of School (2004-2005)

• 400 K-6 students
• Majority Caucasian
• Free/Reduced Lunch - 63
• Title I School
• Faculty and Staff 54

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Instructional Root Cause

• Lack of Systematic, School-wide Writing Process
• Lack of Regular Practice

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Root Cause Remedy

• Initiated School Improvement Project / Team
• Selected Writing Tools Prompts
• Trained Faculty
• Initiated Grade Charting
• Reinforced Student Improvement
• Implemented Multi-year Effort

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Writing Improvement Project

• Focuses Only on Academics
• Addresses Low Writing Scores
• Aligns with School Improvement Plan

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Writing Results
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Writing Results Charted
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Koalaty Kid Team

• Koalaty Kid
• American Society for Quality
• Started in Spring 2001
• Trained KKid Team
• Planned PDSA Project - Summer 2001
• PDSA Plan Updated Each Year

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Team Training

• Sally Duncan KKid Trainer
• Quality Tools and PDSA Training
• Share Success with Area Schools
• Benchmark Best Practices

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PDSA Process
Define
Assess
Adjust the Plan
Analyze Cause
ACT
PLAN
Steps for Improvement
STUDY
DO
Evaluate the Results
Implement the Plan
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PDSA Improvement Plan
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Business Partner

• Pals - Business Excellence Institute
• Attended Pals Benchmarking Session
• Application for Classroom
• 1. Flash Cards
• 2. Organization
• 3. Consistent
• 4. Professional Manner

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Staff Training Quality Tools

• Check Sheets
• Plan-Do-Study-Act
• Affinity Diagram
• Plus / Delta
• Four Square Writing

• Lotus Diagram
• Flow Charts
• Run Charts
• Fish Bone Diagram
• Issue Bin
• Circle Map

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Writing Prompts

• Biweekly Writing Prompts from
  TN Dept. of Ed.
• Scoring Rubric
• Writing Chart and Folders
• For All Grades and Classes

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Writing Prompts First Semester
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Writing Process

• Select Topic
• Brainstorm
• Organize
• Draft
• Revise
• Edit
• Publish

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Lotus
Caylin
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Four Square
Zach 3-3-03
My favorite music is movie songs.
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Writing Exercise
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Student Writing Chart
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Student Grade Charts

• Charts Improve Academics!
• Students Plot Their Grades and Visually See Their
  Own Performance
• Help Students Take Responsibility for Their Own
  Learning

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Student Grade Charts

• Parent / Teacher Conferences
• Helps At-Risk Students
• For Academic Improvement

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Teamwork

• Teachers Participate
• Students Participate
• Writing Project Aligned with School SIP Team

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Elementary Writing Recognition

• Quality Writing on PA Announcements
• Koalaty Kid Express
• Assembly for Writing Recognition
• Each Semester for Improvement
• Spirit Koala

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Writing Recognition
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Lessons Learned / Best Practices

• Focus on Academics
• Align with School Improvement Plan
• Develop PDSA Plan (The How for SIP)
• Steering Team Meets Regularly
• Need Rep from Each Grade
• Review Data / Progress Each Meeting

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Lessons Learned / Best Practices

• Select Best Quality Tool for Project
• Student Charts - Drive Academic Progress

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Questions and Answers