Writing in Elective Classes

What's Better than Holidays Around the World?

Writing Around the School!

Last month’s newsletter highlighted the exceptional and creative work being done by teachers and students in Vermont CTE schools. In this issue, we continue to reaffirm our commitment to writing in all areas, including non-core subjects, where assignments naturally meet the three Rs of our framework - real, relevant, and relatable writing.

Quickwrites are a foundational part of any class and are perfect for elective classes. They take little time, are less intimidating (for teachers and students), and serve to engage students in learning content as well as the application of skills. Additionally, writing is one of the best vehicles for reinforcing and assessing content knowledge. With their clear structure and rigorous questions, our quickwrites also serve as great preparation for constructed response questions. And they are a classroom favorite because they can be completed and graded quickly.

Linked here are some examples of how quickwrites can be incorporated seamlessly and purposefully into elective areas. Quickwrites can be either Type Ones (brainstorming, activating prior knowledge, reflecting) or Type Twos (checking or reinforcing understanding), depending on where students are in the learning process. To keep quickwrites quick, remember to set a time limit for students to respond, usually about 2 to 5 minutes.

Beyond Quickwrites

Looking for some slightly more in-depth assignments for your content area? Below is a link to some writing ideas that meet the three Rs of our framework yet are not "traditional" essays. Some are for younger grades and some for older. Customize them to make them work for your classroom!

Writing Beyond Quickwrites

Click here for last month's tips on providing quick feedback on writing.

Learn more about Type One and Type Two writing here.

You do not need to be an English teacher to be a teacher who uses writing! Click here to explore some of the similarities and differences between the role of the English teacher and the role of content area teachers when it comes to using writing in the classroom.

And speaking of comparisons, we have the perfect alternative to the sometimes-clumsy Venn diagram...Our Compare and Contrast Matrix is a great graphic organizer and note-taking sheet for content area classes--and a huge crowd-pleaser!