Literacy Coaching Corner

Making A Connection with Writing: January 2022

This year with the Literacy Leader Network, our focus is Essential 6, research and standards aligned writing instruction. The Literacy Leaders from each district will be digging deeper into best practices in writing instruction each month. One way to share their learning with you is to use the information and resources provided in this newsletter. It's our hope that you'll reach out to your building literacy leader and/or your ISD literacy coach if you have questions about best writing practices.

Essential Instructional Practice #6

Reflections from The Literacy Leader Network: The Benefits of Implementation of Interactive Writing Instruction

“Less frustration and resistance from students.”

“Students more willing to participate in writing.”

“Application and transfer of foundational writing skills into authentic writing.”

“More students actively engaged in writing.”

“Students like to work with their peers to help with spelling or sentence structure.”

“They like to catch mistakes and correct others.”

“They are proud of their work and like to read it multiple times.”

“Shared experiences and more connections with students."

“Authentic practice writing and reading high frequency words."

“Building a collaborative culture of student writers."

“Giving individual students a moment to shine and share their voice."

“Scaffolding builds confidence."

“Engagement - This is a very motivating time every day with active participation.”

Writing Focus: Daily Time

According to the Essential #6, bullet #2, daily time should be provided for to write. Daily writing can happen throughout the day and throughout the curriculum. Just as we expect children to read daily within classrooms to build stamina and develop practice and learned skills, the same is expected from writing. Children need time to write in order to build writing fluency as well as stamina. Children love to write when given the proper support and encouragement. Find times throughout your day for your students to put pencil to paper or fingers to keyboards.

The more opportunities that children have to write the more they will see themselves as writers and the more confident you will feel in your writing instruction.

The video below provides a peek into a classroom in which writing occurs every day.

Literacy Leader Network: Who They Are

As a reminder, these are the Literacy Leaders by building:

Anna Hungerford and Cadi Drayton from Ovid-Elsie
Sharon Brown from Pewamo-Westphalia
Amy Verhougstraete and Erin Larson from DeWitt
Michelle Clark from Bath
Tammy Wilson and Elissa Rowland from St.Johns
Brenda Epkey and LeAnn Schafer from Fowler

We are excited to work with these teachers again this year and hope that you will use your building leader as another resource on your literacy journey.

Clinton County RESA Literacy Resource Website

The early literacy coaching team has created the Clinton County RESA Literacy Website to provide general literacy and Early Instructional Practices resources for teachers professional learning. You will also find past issues of the Literacy Coaching Corner housed there.

If you'd like to earn 5 SCECHs and learn more about Essential 6, click here to sign up for a free MI Virtual course.

Family Connection

Here are some creative tips to encourage your child to write at home. Take a look!

7 Great Ways to Encourage Your Child's Writing

If your child struggles with writing, it's important to find new and exciting ways to encourage her to write. Here are some creative strategies to try.

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