Committee Name:  Writing

Purpose: 

1.        Plan ways to improve writing instruction, especially at the 4th grade level;

2.        Explore more efficient ways of completing and scoring writing portfolios;

3.        Integrate open-response and on-demand questions into the curriculum.

Date of Meeting: Sept. 17, 2004

Starting Time:  10:45 AM

Ending Time:  11:30 AM

Submitted by: Lynda Davis

Members Present: Lynda Davis, DeAnna Johnson, Mary Jane Kinman, Julie Pearman, and Dana Rose

Agenda: (Preparation for) Writing Portfolio Pieces

Discussion on each item:

Homeroom/Language Arts/Writing classes:  Continue lessons on “Friendly Letters”, with emphasis on “real-world” connections.  Teachers shared ideas, lessons that have already been implemented in the classroom (invitations, thank-you letters, persuasive letters)

Portfolio Writing: 

Poetry --Teachers have/will schedule Poetry lessons with Dayna Lykins, to be followed up with lessons in Technology class with Amy Ford.  Students will have completed a poem by the end of October.

Personal Narrative –Students are learning the narrative style of writing, utilizing the Language and Reading texts, teacher reading, etc.

 Reflective Writing –Students will reflect on writing often during the year, with reminders to critique their personal growth in writing.  This process will assist with the completion of the final Portfolio Writing Piece, the “Letter to the Reviewer”.

DeAnna Johnson will be attending a full day in-service on Sept. 29, 2004.

Action taken on each item:

Teachers agreed to implement the items discussed at the meeting.  We will have ongoing discussions about these items at our Fourth Grade Meetings and/or whenever there is a need.