VIRTUAL WRITING CONFERENCE FOR K-12 EDUCATORS

To build writers, it’s not a matter of choosing between the Six Traits, the writing process, state standards, or even the writer’s workshop model. All of these components need to occur in tandem. Every writer needs explicit instruction, in-class time to try the skill, and an opportunity to receive feedback. During this session, learn how to incorporate all of these facets within the core components of the writer’s workshop.

AUDIENCE: K-12
PRESENTER: Rachel Remenschneider

Students get better at writing when they have an opportunity to experiment with a newly-taught writing skill. This experience occurs during the “You-do” portion of the writer’s workshop. During this session, collect practical ideas for engaging students in purposeful writing tasks after the mini-lesson.

AUDIENCE: K-12, ELL All Levels
PRESENTER: Courtney Gordon

Although strong writing includes all Six Traits, the first hurdle is to teach students how to write more. This session focuses on the trait of ideas with explicit lessons on developing a topic, adding details, and incorporating evidence. These strategies will increase the length of students’ writing and also grow their writer stamina.

AUDIENCE: K-12, ELL All Levels
PRESENTER: Kristina Smekens

The power of mentor text is that students read and analyze the qualities of strong writing before they are expected to apply those same qualities within their own products. This session reveals the do’s and don’ts of incorporating picture books, exemplar papers, and real-world texts into your mini-lessons.

AUDIENCE: K-12, ELL All Levels
PRESENTER: Rachel Remenschneider

When the writer’s workshop is anchored in strong procedures, it sets the stage for building student independence. This session offers practical strategies for handling the “I’m done” writer,  the “I need help” learner, and the “I’m stuck on spelling” student. Learn several routines and procedures that build writer stamina and student independence, regardless of their age or grade level.

AUDIENCE: K-12, ELL All Levels
PRESENTER: Kristina Smekens

Highly-effective teaching occurs when educators deliver explicit instruction on standards-based skills during a 10-15 minute whole-class mini-lesson. In this session, learn how to deliver focused and engaging mini-lessons that follow the 4-step process and honor the gradual release of responsibility.

AUDIENCE: K-12, ELL All Levels
PRESENTER: Shona Lansdell

The most effective writing mini-lessons follow the gradual release of responsibility starting with a strong teacher demonstration and Think Aloud. These teacher tools provide a framework that helps students understand the end goal and the steps required. In this session, learn how to perfect this “I-do” portion of every mini-lesson by moving beyond telling what to teaching how.

AUDIENCE: K-12, ELL All Levels
PRESENTER: Kristina Smekens

In order to write well in math, science, and social studies, the standards require explicit instruction be taught in every content area. This session will show attendees how they can punctuate students’ subject-area learning with short and powerful writing experiences. This includes providing discipline-specific writing instruction, assigning relevant writing tasks, and assessing content accuracy with first-draft writing skills.

AUDIENCE: 2-12, ELL Levels 3-5
PRESENTER: Rachel Remenschneider

Convention instruction must go beyond memorizing rules. Rather, the instruction should focus on the purpose, function, and impact the grammar skill has on a sentence’s overall message. This session outlines several ways to make your initial grammar lessons more powerful, more visual, and more memorable.

AUDIENCE: K-12, ELL All Levels
PRESENTER: Shona Lansdell

The expectation to write short responses in language arts is well known—but this is also an important component in today’s math class. Beyond showing their work and providing the correct answer, students also have to explain their thinking in writing. This session reveals mini-lesson concepts that target core writing skills needed in math.

AUDIENCE: 2-12, ELL Levels 3-5
PRESENTER: Bridget Longmeier

When writing assessment is directly tied to instruction, students get to practice a skill while it’s fresh, and teachers can focus on meaningful feedback rather than draining their red pens. In this session, learn how to use the Six Traits of Writing to frame writing lessons and the assessments that follow. Then learn strategies for when to score for particular traits and when to assess all of them.

AUDIENCE: 2-12, ELL Levels 3-5
PRESENTER: Courtney Gordon

Students need a tool that defines “good” writing and identifies what the teacher wants. Rubrics accomplish this. However, a rubric must be kid-friendly. Five-year-olds and/or ELLs have to be able to “read” it. This session will reveal strategies to create and grow a rubric with students that is visual and includes simple language that the youngest writers understand.

AUDIENCE: K-2, ELL Levels 1-2
PRESENTER: Shona Lansdell

This session will reveal how 6-Trait rubrics are incorporated into the intermediate and secondary writing curriculum. Additionally, teachers will learn how to create a “kid-friendly” rubric, update the rubric as writers grow, and apply the same rubric to different writing products.

AUDIENCE: 2-12, ELL Levels 3-5
PRESENTER: Courtney Gordon

Using the Six Traits of Writing as the framework to assess student work is a logical spinoff of trait-based instruction. But converting a Six-Traits rubric to points, and ultimately a letter grade, can seem like a barrier. In this session, learn how to assign value to each trait being assessed and then convert writing scores to grades.

AUDIENCE: 2-12, ELL Levels 3-5
PRESENTER: Kristina Smekens

Students grow as writers when they are given feedback that is prompt, purposeful, precise, and personal. In this session, learn how to hold conferences and provide students with feedback via compliments and comments.

AUDIENCE: K-12, ELL All Levels
PRESENTER: Kristi McCullough