GED 595 - Writing in the Upper Elementary Grades

This course will explore the components of a writing workshop for the upper elementary grades. Focus will be primarily, but not restricted to, the Vermont Writing Standards. Students will examine the scaffolding a teacher sets up before writing begins. This will include: content knowledge, organization, essential questions, graphic organizers and various mini lessons. The course will strive to link the classroom reading and writing programs. Using the Vermont Writing Collaborative’s text Writing for Understanding the course will step past the writing process and explore the models and methods used in a backward design approach to the teaching of writing. Additionally one class will be spent looking at new technologies used in the creating and publishing of student work.

Credits: 3 cr.

Miscellaneous Notes:
Text: Writing for Understanding: Using Backward Design to Help All Students Write Effectively
The Vermont Writing Collaborative
Published by Authentic Education
ISBN: 978-1-934685-05-1