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 The NNWP supports its Teacher Consultants who have created their own educational websites:  Dena Harrison's Website  Holly Young's Website Listen Up! Learning Is Messy Be sure to visit our sponsors: |
Writing Traits: Nevada's Writing Exam "Thank you so much for the information that you have posted on this page. I am a fifth grade teacher in Las Vegas. I was lucky enough to find this website early in the fall. I was able to implement two of the suggested writing prompts in my class and grade level. We recently got the results of our writing tests, and our scores went up by 15%. I attribute the gain directly to the materials provided by your website." (Kaye C., Nevada teacher)
This page was created at our website to encourage authentic, student-friendlytest preparation...the kind of preparation that will help your students succeed as writers on the test, but also as life-long writers. How did this page come about? In 2006, two former Head Readers for the State of Nevada's Writing Examination (Dena Harrison and Kay Henjum) and one current Head Reader (Carol Harriman) began working with over a dozen Nevada schools to explore meaningful ways to prepare elementary and middle school students for success on their upcoming writing examinations. This trio of experts had two major goals with their effort: 1) discouraging "drill and kill" prompt practice as a means of test preparation; and 2) helping teachers react both meaningfully and knowledgeably to formative trait data long before students actually take their examinations. The resources on this page are results of their continued work in this effort. At present, we have created a complete set of materials for both fifth and eighth grade teachers to administer and assess three narrative practice prompts, and by February 2010, we will have similar materials for fourth grade teachers. In 2011, the eighth grade test will change from narrative to expository, and starting in 2010, we will begin posting expository practice prompts for both seventh and eighth grade teachers. All students in Nevada eventually must pass a high school writing exam, and preparation for this assessment must begin long before students enter high school. The resources on this page have been designed to help our teachers gather formative data on their students' ability to eventually pass this test. We strongly suggest that in between administering any practice prompts, students and teachers spend (at least) three or four weeks actively discussing each set of formative scores, trying out strategies that might improve upon any deficiencies, and setting personal goals with students for upcoming practice prompts. We hope the materials and suggestions on this page help our teachers think about trait data differently--as formative information that helps them skillfully design writing instruction. Even if you're not a Nevada teacher, we believe you'll find what we've presented on this page useful if you too are preparing your students for a state writing assessment. Are you a Nevada teacher with a suggestion or idea that we can post on this page at WritingFix? We want to hear from you! Contact us at webmaster@writingfix.com nd help us develop this page further. We send complimentary copies of the Northern Nevada Writing Project's Print Guides to those who help us further-build our resources pages at WritingFix. |
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Announing the "Nevada Sparklers" Contest |
A "sparkler" is a test essay that just shines! Inspired by Gretchen Bernabei & Judy Reimer's book Sparklers: High Scoring Test Essays and What They Teach Us (available from Barry Lane's Discover Writing Website), we've decided our six sets of practice prompts (found below) would be even more helpful if teachers and students could read a sample by an actual Nevada student whose writing would score a 19 or 20, using the Nevada analytic trait rubrics. We are, therefore, on a hunt for high-scoring practice prompts from 5th and 8th grade teachers who use the practice prompts. This contest offers potential prizes for both the student writers who score well on these prompts and for the teachers who score and submit samples from their students. Click here to open/print our contest flyer. Rules for the Nevada Sparklers Contest:
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This contest is for any Nevada 5th or 8th grade teacher who uses WritingFix's practice prompts (found below) during the Fall of 2009!
Information about Nevada's Writing Assessment: |
Avoiding Test Anxiety in your Classroom: |
In Nevada, our students' writing is tested at three grade levels: 5th, 8th, and 11th. In June 2009, we received word of some changes that will be taking place in the next few years on the Nevada State Writing Test. Check back with us soon. We will be posting a table that explains the changes that were just recently announced. At WritingFix, we strive to provide the most accurate and relevant information possible. Fifth grade test: Nevada's fifth graders are tested with a narrative prompt and scored using analytic rubrics for four of the writing traits: idea development, organization, voice, and conventions. Students receive four scores: from one to five points in each of the these four traits. A combined score of 12 points is the minimum score a student can receive to pass his/her test. A score of 20 is a perfect score, and that score means the student received five possible points in all four of the scored traits. Up until a few years ago, Nevada students needed a minimum score of three in all four traits to pass, but in 2005 that was changed; now students can pass their tests if they have an average score of three in all four traits. Eighth grade test: In 2010, our eighth graders will be tested using a narrative prompt and the analytic rubrics one final time. For 2011, the prompt for eighth grade will be changing to an expository one, and a new holistic rubric is being designed to assess the writing. Eleventh grade test: At the 11th grade level, students' writing is assessed using a trait-based holistic writing rubric. The prompt is persuasive or expository. Students who do not pass in the 11th grade, re-take the writing test in 12th grade. More information about Nevada's writing assessment can be found at the Nevada Department of Education's website. |
This page's theme is: start preparing in meaningful ways long before students take the test so that test preparation doesn't feel like "drill and kill." With that said, might we suggest you discuss mandatory testing by sharing the picture books Testing Miss Malarkey and Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!. Enjoy these books out loud long before you begin any test-specific preparation with your students. Here's another great suggestion for lessening test stress, which comes from Barry Lane's awesome DVD and lesson package that's specifically designed to help students authentically prepare for a state writing exam--Hooked on Meaning: Have your students create cartoons or caricatures that represent the mysterious someone who might score their writing tests. If students can smile while sketching an unknown scorer, their stress levels change. You can find out more about Barry's DVD package at the bottom of this page. |
It's important for students to practice the type of writing they'll be asked to do on the state writing examination. These questions should occur to teachers: How much practice is enough? When should students begin practicing? How can we score the practice writing to know how to help our students before they take the actual test? We believe our Nevada students should practice three times as fourth graders, three times as fifth graders, three times as seventh graders, and three times as eighth graders. We believe there should be a month (at least) in between the practice prompts, and during that month, teachers should work together to score the responses so that students can react to the scores and set goals for themselves for the next practice prompt. Below are seven valuable resources we have been successfully using in Northern Nevada, all created by teachers at schools where students are practicing for state writing tests. Below these resources, you will find the prompts we use with our 4-8th graders, including annotated samples to assist in scoring and explaining scores to student writers.
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Fourth Grade Practice Prompts (Narrative):
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Fourth-grade Practice Prompt #1: Think of something you have done that brought you satisfaction, pleasure or a sense of accomplishment. Tell a story about this activity or event.
Fourth-grade Practice Prompt #2: There are many amazing people, things, places, and events in our world. Tell a story about one of them.
Fourth-grade Practice Prompt #3: If you could give a special gift or award to a deserving person, what would it be and why? Share reasons and details as you compose your answer.
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Fifth-grade Practice Prompt #1: Think about a time when something special or unusual happened at school. It could be a time when something unexpected happened in your classroom. Or it could be any event at school that you remember well. Write about what happened and why it was special or unusual.
Fifth-grade Practice Prompt #2: It's always a pleasure to give and receive gifts. Sometimes the gift is a present. Sometimes the gift is something someone does for you or someone else. What is the best gift you have ever given or received? Tell about a time you gave or received a gift and why that gift was important to you.
Fifth-grade Practice Prompt #3: Remember a time when you did something that made you feel proud of yourself. Think about what you did and how you felt about it. Try to remember the details clearly in your mind. Then write about what you did, including the sights and sounds of the moment.
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Seventh Grade Practice Prompts (Expository for 2011):
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Seventh-grade Practice Prompt #1: Friendships are important to middle school students. Write a definition of what your friends mean to you and be sure to include examples.
Seventh-grade Practice Prompt #2: We all experience stressfull times in our lives. Name three strategies you use to overcome stress and explain how they help you.
Seventh-grade Practice Prompt #3: We all experience stressfull times in our lives. Name three strategies you use to overcome stress and explain how they help you.
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Eighth-grade Practice Prompt #1: Books, movies, and television can offer opportunities to learn valuable lessons. Write about a lesson learned from a book, movie, or television show that proved to be of value to you.
Eighth-grade Practice Prompt #2: Describe a favorite toy or object from your childhood. Try to remember its color, shape, texture, smell, and sound. How did it make you feel?
Eighth-grade Practice Prompt #3: We all have done things that, when we look back, we would have done differently. Recall a time when you did or said something you wished you could erase and do over. Explain what you did, and tell what you'd do differently.
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Does your school use the NNWP's Trait Guide? It should.
Click here to find out how to order individual teacher copies. Northern Nevada administrators: We offer a discount rate (just $5.00 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." 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. 6 Trait Songs for your Classroom:In Nevada, students are scored on four of the six traits for their 5th and 8th grade state writing tests: idea development, organization, voice, and conventions. Students receive a score between 1 (low) and 5 (high) on all four traits, for a possible combined score of 20. Northern Nevada Writing Project Teacher Consultant, Terry Stelle, has shared with us her original trait songs that she teaches her students to sing as they prepare to be tested. These songs mention both how scores are received and strategies for improving each of Nevada's tested traits in writing. |
Barry Lane's Hooked on Meaning
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 try not to 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 from Barry Lane's "Hooked on Meaning." If the computer you're using allows you to watch video clips from You-Tube, you will be able to preview two of the video lessons from Hooked on Meaning by using the links below. If you're using a computer that doesn't allow for these videos, you will see nothing below and we suggest you try looking at these from a home computer: "What's at the End of the Rainbow?" Sample Clip:
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On February 8, 2008, Barry Lane returned to Reno 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. If you missed out, on February 10, 2009, he is planning to return and run the workshop again.
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