KDE Program Review Guide for Writing
June 2011
Writing: Curriculum and Instruction
Demonstrator 1. Student Access
All students should have equitable access to high quality curriculum and instruction.
Sample evidence
School writing policy/plan* Student journals/learning logs* Curriculum documents with student samples of integrated literacy instruction across content areas
Demonstrator 2. Aligned and Rigorous Curriculum
An aligned and rigorous curriculum provides access to a common academic core for all students as defined by state and national standards.
Sample evidence
Curriculum documents* School writing policy and/or plan* Student communication portfolio meeting characteristic* Curriculum planning documents, with student samples, that demonstrate students critical thinking, problem-solving* Student generated podcasts, videos, Media presentations, documentaries, oral histories
Demonstrator 3. Instructional Strategies
All teachers should implement instructional strategies that provide quality, variety, and access for all students.
Sample evidence
Student journals/writer’s notebooks;*Video clips of classroom practice Student products that reflect choice and appropriate use of technology for communicating ideas* School web pages or publications where students have opportunities to publish communication products* Student products from clubs (journalism), writing and speech contests, publications* Master schedule of courses, events, avenues for advanced learning opportunities and interventions*Recordings of student presentations or student-led events
Demonstrator 4. Student Performance
When all students are provided access to an aligned and rigorous curriculum, where instructional strategies are of high quality and inclusive, student performance should be at a consistently high level.
Sample evidence
Student writing and communication products appropriate for content areas* Student developed models*Unit/planning documents that reflect characteristics*Digital media that reflects collaboration of students in problem-solving and generating products*Student products that reflect characteristics
Writing: Formative and Summative Assessment
Demonstrator 1. Variety of Assessment
Teachers should use a variety of assessments to formatively and summatively monitor student progress toward standards.
Sample evidence
Unit plans/planning documents that show alignment of assessments and instruction to standards* Unit plans/planning documents that reflect integration of formative and summative assessment practices*Professional learning community/meeting notes and documents developed that reflect collaborative efforts in designing assessments that meet characteristics
Demonstrator 2. Expectations for Student Learning
Teachers should have common and high standards for student learning in the content area.
Sample evidence
Student assessment results that reflect students’ reflection on learning*Students’ goal-setting samples*Lesson plans that describe strategies for involving students in identifying learning strengths and needs and goals for learning*Teachers’ reflections on student assessment data*Samples of co-developed scoring guides/rubrics
Demonstrator 3. Response to Assessment
Multiple formative and summative assessments are used to inform, guide, develop and revise instructional strategies and curriculum to enhance student learning and achievement.
Sample evidence
Professional learning community/team meeting notes/documents that reflect discussions and work around formative/summative assessment, including identification of next steps in instruction*Unit/lesson plans that reflect instructional decisions based on formative assessment results*Student work samples that include teacher and peer feedback and reflection*Students communications portfolio that includes process of feedback, revision before final products are produced.
Writing: Professional Development and Support Services
Demonstrator 1. Planning
Professional development opportunities are planned with teacher learning needs in mind, and in response to data available about teacher practice and student learning.
Sample evidence
Professional development action plan aligned with school vision for literacy*Documentation of communication of the professional development action plan (e.g., emails, staff meeting agendas, PLC notes)
Demonstrator 2. Participation
Teachers participate in program-specific professional development designed to meet their needs. All teachers participate in professional development focused on 21st century skills.
Sample evidence
Relative Professional Growth Plans*Relative Professional Learning Community (PLC) notes/documents that demonstrate professional learning targeted to improved writing/communication instruction and/or 21st century skills*Relative professional development agendas/notes*School writing policy or plan that communicates participation of all teachers in the writing program*Curriculum documents that reflect a school wide emphasis on writing/communication*Book study notes*Action research notes/outcomes
Demonstrator 3. Teacher Leadership
Teachers are leaders in their professional community, and guide/lead professional development that meets the needs of the professional learning community.
Sample evidence
Documentation of professional learning opportunities facilitated by teacher/teacher leaders*Professional Learning Community notes or developed documents/outcomes*Professional development action plan with record of implementation*Documentation of professional development opportunities that support instructional practices regarding writing and communication skills*Teacher leader planning notes for mentoring, coaching, modeling, facilitating presentations.
Demonstrator 1. Student Access
All students should have equitable access to high quality curriculum and instruction.
Sample evidence
School writing policy/plan* Student journals/learning logs* Curriculum documents with student samples of integrated literacy instruction across content areas
Demonstrator 2. Aligned and Rigorous Curriculum
An aligned and rigorous curriculum provides access to a common academic core for all students as defined by state and national standards.
Sample evidence
Curriculum documents* School writing policy and/or plan* Student communication portfolio meeting characteristic* Curriculum planning documents, with student samples, that demonstrate students critical thinking, problem-solving* Student generated podcasts, videos, Media presentations, documentaries, oral histories
Demonstrator 3. Instructional Strategies
All teachers should implement instructional strategies that provide quality, variety, and access for all students.
Sample evidence
Student journals/writer’s notebooks;*Video clips of classroom practice Student products that reflect choice and appropriate use of technology for communicating ideas* School web pages or publications where students have opportunities to publish communication products* Student products from clubs (journalism), writing and speech contests, publications* Master schedule of courses, events, avenues for advanced learning opportunities and interventions*Recordings of student presentations or student-led events
Demonstrator 4. Student Performance
When all students are provided access to an aligned and rigorous curriculum, where instructional strategies are of high quality and inclusive, student performance should be at a consistently high level.
Sample evidence
Student writing and communication products appropriate for content areas* Student developed models*Unit/planning documents that reflect characteristics*Digital media that reflects collaboration of students in problem-solving and generating products*Student products that reflect characteristics
Writing: Formative and Summative Assessment
Demonstrator 1. Variety of Assessment
Teachers should use a variety of assessments to formatively and summatively monitor student progress toward standards.
Sample evidence
Unit plans/planning documents that show alignment of assessments and instruction to standards* Unit plans/planning documents that reflect integration of formative and summative assessment practices*Professional learning community/meeting notes and documents developed that reflect collaborative efforts in designing assessments that meet characteristics
Demonstrator 2. Expectations for Student Learning
Teachers should have common and high standards for student learning in the content area.
Sample evidence
Student assessment results that reflect students’ reflection on learning*Students’ goal-setting samples*Lesson plans that describe strategies for involving students in identifying learning strengths and needs and goals for learning*Teachers’ reflections on student assessment data*Samples of co-developed scoring guides/rubrics
Demonstrator 3. Response to Assessment
Multiple formative and summative assessments are used to inform, guide, develop and revise instructional strategies and curriculum to enhance student learning and achievement.
Sample evidence
Professional learning community/team meeting notes/documents that reflect discussions and work around formative/summative assessment, including identification of next steps in instruction*Unit/lesson plans that reflect instructional decisions based on formative assessment results*Student work samples that include teacher and peer feedback and reflection*Students communications portfolio that includes process of feedback, revision before final products are produced.
Writing: Professional Development and Support Services
Demonstrator 1. Planning
Professional development opportunities are planned with teacher learning needs in mind, and in response to data available about teacher practice and student learning.
Sample evidence
Professional development action plan aligned with school vision for literacy*Documentation of communication of the professional development action plan (e.g., emails, staff meeting agendas, PLC notes)
Demonstrator 2. Participation
Teachers participate in program-specific professional development designed to meet their needs. All teachers participate in professional development focused on 21st century skills.
Sample evidence
Relative Professional Growth Plans*Relative Professional Learning Community (PLC) notes/documents that demonstrate professional learning targeted to improved writing/communication instruction and/or 21st century skills*Relative professional development agendas/notes*School writing policy or plan that communicates participation of all teachers in the writing program*Curriculum documents that reflect a school wide emphasis on writing/communication*Book study notes*Action research notes/outcomes
Demonstrator 3. Teacher Leadership
Teachers are leaders in their professional community, and guide/lead professional development that meets the needs of the professional learning community.
Sample evidence
Documentation of professional learning opportunities facilitated by teacher/teacher leaders*Professional Learning Community notes or developed documents/outcomes*Professional development action plan with record of implementation*Documentation of professional development opportunities that support instructional practices regarding writing and communication skills*Teacher leader planning notes for mentoring, coaching, modeling, facilitating presentations.