Classroom Resources when Preparing for State Writing Tests:

5th grade resources:

Spring Practice Prompt #1:

Three or four months before they "graduate" fourth grade, assign your fourth graders the following practice prompt, then use the anchor papers to determine students' scores.

Materials for writing the practice prompt

• Spring practice prompt #1 (to be printed on an overhead)
• Spring practice prompt #1 (handout version)
• "Test" form where students can write their practice prompts' final draft

Materials for scoring the samples and reacting to the data

• Anchor papers for Spring practice prompt #1 (coming this summer)
• Goal-setting sheet (for fifth graders to use when they receive their scores on Spring practice prompt #1)
• Classroom-at-a-glance data sheet (for fifth grade teachers to use when they have scored practice prompts) Print on legal-sized paper.

Spring Practice Prompt #2:

Two or three months before they "graduate" fourth grade, assign your fourth graders the following practice prompt, then use the anchor papers to determine students' scores.

Materials for writing the practice prompt

• Spring practice prompt #2 (to be printed on an overhead)
• Spring practice prompt #2 (handout version)
• "Test" form where students can write their practice prompts' final draft

Materials for scoring the samples and reacting to the data

• Anchor papers for Spring practice prompt #2 (coming this summer)
• Goal-setting sheet (for fifth graders to use when they receive their scores on Spring practice prompt #2)
• Classroom-at-a-glance data sheet (for fifth grade teachers to use when they have scored practice prompts) Print on legal-sized paper.

Spring Practice Prompt #3:

One or two months before they "graduate" fourth grade, assign your fourth graders the following practice prompt, then use the anchor papers to determine students' scores.

Materials for writing the practice prompt

• Spring practice prompt #3 (to be printed on an overhead)
• Spring practice prompt #3 (handout version)
• "Test" form where students can write their practice prompts' final draft

Materials for scoring the samples and reacting to the data

• Anchor papers for Spring practice prompt #3 (coming this summer)
• Goal-setting sheet (for fifth graders to use when they receive their scores on Spring practice prompt #3)
• Classroom-at-a-glance data sheet (for fifth grade teachers to use when they have scored practice prompts) Print on legal-sized paper.

Fall Practice Prompt #1:

Four months before the test, assign your fifth graders the following practice prompt, then use the anchor papers to determine students' scores.

Materials for writing the practice prompt

• Fall practice prompt #1 (to be printed on an overhead)
• Fall practice prompt #1 (handout version)
• "Test" form where students can write their practice prompts' final draft

Materials for scoring the samples and reacting to the data

• Anchor papers for Fall practice prompt #1 (coming this summer)
• Goal-setting sheet (for fifth graders to use when they receive their scores on Fall practice prompt #1)
• Classroom-at-a-glance data sheet (for fifth grade teachers to use when they have scored practice prompts) Print on legal-sized paper.

Fall Practice Prompt #2:

Three months before the test, assign your fifth graders the following practice prompt, then use the anchor papers to determine students' scores.

Materials for writing the practice prompt

• Fall practice prompt #2 (to be printed on an overhead)
• Fall practice prompt #2 (handout version)
• "Test" form where students can write their practice prompts' final draft

Materials for scoring the samples and reacting to the data

• Anchor papers for Fall practice prompt #2 (coming this summer)
• Goal-setting sheet (for fifth graders to use when they receive their scores on Fall practice prompt #2)
• Classroom-at-a-glance data sheet (for fifth grade teachers to use when they have scored practice prompts) Print on legal-sized paper.

Fall Practice Prompt #3:

Two months before the test, assign your fifth graders the following practice prompt, then use the anchor papers to determine students' scores.

Materials for writing the practice prompt

• Fall practice prompt #3 (to be printed on an overhead)
• Fall practice prompt #3 (handout version)
• "Test" form where students can write their practice prompts' final draft

Materials for scoring the samples and reacting to the data

• Anchor papers for Fall practice prompt #3 (coming this summer)
• Goal-setting sheet (for fifth graders to use when they receive their scores on Fall practice prompt #3)
• Classroom-at-a-glance data sheet (for fifth grade teachers to use when they have scored practice prompts) Print on legal-sized paper.

Fall Practice Prompt #4:

One month before the test, assign your fifth graders the following practice prompt, then use the anchor papers to determine students' scores.

Materials for writing the practice prompt

• Fall practice prompt #4 (to be printed on an overhead)
• Fall practice prompt #4 (handout version)
• "Test" form where students can write their practice prompts' final draft

Materials for scoring the samples and reacting to the data

• Anchor papers for Fall practice prompt #4 (coming this summer)
• Goal-setting sheet (for fifth graders to use when they receive their scores on Fall practice prompt #4)
• Classroom-at-a-glance data sheet (for fifth grade teachers to use when they have scored practice prompts) Print on legal-sized paper.

Introduce WritingFix's 6-trait metaphor to make your test preparation more meaningful:

Click here to open and print our 7-page poster/handout set of this new Northern Nevada metaphor for the 6 traits.

• Idea Development
• Organization
• Voice
• Conventions

• Holistic rubric

Does your school have a staff set of the NNWP's Trait workbook? It should.

The Northern Nevada Writing Project's teacher workbook--the Going Deep with 6 Trait Language Guide--generously shares lessons, resources, and discussion tools that help classrooms and schools discover anew the language of traits. 

Click here to find out how to order individual teacher copies.

Northern Nevada administrators:  We offer a discount rate (just $6.00 per copy) when ten or more of these workbooks are ordered by a principal for his/her school.  Contact Corbett Harrison (charrison@washoe.k12.nv.us) to take advantage of this discount.

______________________________________

"I stumbled upon your website by accident - I just love accidents like that. The book on Writing Traits is AMAZING! I absolutely love it."
 
                       --Deepika Ahuja, Cranbrook Schools, Michigan

Barry Lane's Hooked on Meaning

On February 8, 2008, Barry Lane returned to workshop around his newest product
--Hooked on Meaning--which is designed to be shown and used with students who are preparing to take a state writing exam.

Quoted from Barry's Discover Writing Website:  "In this DVD/VHS, you will find 12 simple lessons teachers can show directly to students, grades 3-8, before the test. This material, and the entertaining way it's presented, will improve both the attitude toward the test and also teach aspects of the writers craft. Composed of short, entertaining three minute segments and simple exercises, and enhanced by a 120-page study guide filled with extra lessons, posters, and overhead-ready examples, Barry Lane's Hooked on Meaning is the perfect tool for incorporating prompted tests into a meaning-based writing program.  Show it directly to your class or use it as a professional development event for your faculty."

We don't advertise on the WritingFix site, but we believe this to be a marvelous tool to have available at your school.  Consider talking to your principal about paying for you to attend the February workshop as a representative of your school; by participating, you will receive a copy of Barry's Hooked on Meaning package, which contains a DVD, VHS tape, and lessons that are ready to be run off and used with your students.

Click here to find out more information (and to see a sample clip) from Barry Lane's "Hooked on Meaning."