Staff Development Project

Jennifer Campbell
B.A. Kennedy Elementary School
2015-2016
Purpose: To reflect on our current writing practices, learn more about Writers Workshop, and
discuss the implications of our reflections and gained knowledge as we look to next school year.
Who: Kindergarten and 1st Grade teachers
Timeline: Kickoff on Monday, November 2, 2015 - Day inservice, with discussions and
research continuing through the 2015-2016 school year.
Agenda for November 2:

Review results of 2015 Needs Assessment survey

Breakout reflection and discussion with grade level teams

What do we like about Wonders writing? What are areas of
frustration? Do we feel our curriculum is preparing our students well? What
would we like to see in the future?
Come back together for a whole-group discussion
What are our priorities based on these
discussions?

Overview of Writers Workshop components and why it works (presented by me)

Share the Teachers First website; invite teachers to
read/famliarize themselves further.
Breakout reflection and discussion with grade level
teams
How does this connect to what we
currently do?
Is this a model that is of interest to
us?
Come back together for a whole-group discussion

Introduce the Dorn book, explaining how it will be used as a part of PLCs as a
book study for the upcoming months.

Future plans
Book Study
Investigate Units of Study
Do we tweak Wonders or do something completely different?

Resources: Scaffolding Young Writers: A Writers Workshop Approach by Linda J. Dorn &
Carla Soffos
15 copies
The Art of Teaching Writing by Lucy Calkins

6 copies, to be distributed to grade level teams and

resource teachers
This book will be purchased as an additional
resource, to be utilized as team members see fit.
http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/writers/index.cfm
Great general overview of Writers Workshop, as
well as grade-level specific pages with further information about
implementation.
Samplers of Units of Study in Opinion, Information, and Narrative Writing by Lucy
Calkins, published by Heinemann
Impact on Student Achievement: Student learning and achievement will be directly impacted
by this staff development project. Based on the 2015 needs assessment survey, the staff has a
desire to improve writing instruction in our building and learn more about a workshop approach.
Through this project, conversations will be had and plans will be made for how we can best
move forward to continue to meet the needs of our diverse learners through best practice.
INTASC 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10
Wisconsin Administrative Standards 1, 2, 3, 4