In preparation for the new online writing assessments, several writing lessons from each grade band are provided on the VDOE website, along with a wealth of resources. To further support the teaching of writing, you may be interested in accessing some of the following resources that are among several excellent links provided on the VDOE site.
Beginning with the 2013 spring administration of grades 5, 8, and end-of-course Standards of Learning (SOL) writing assessments, Virginia students will complete all direct writing tests online. In preparation for the new online writing assessments, several writing lessons from each grade band are provided on the VDOE website, along with a wealth of resources. Visit the VDOE site to find the following:
- graphic organizers to support writing such as an Idea Map,
- progression charts such as the Writing Skills Progression by Grade,
- test blueprints that will be effective with the administration of the 2012-2013 English Standards of Learning (SOL) tests,
- sample lesson plans such as K-2 Writing process-Expository writing and Grades 6-8 Identifying audience and purpose,
- writing prompts that may be administered on the new Writing Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, beginning with the spring 2013 test administration, such as Grade 5 Prompts,
- writing practice tools to help students practice writing on the computer, checklists for writers such as the Grade 5 Writing and Grade 8 Writing checklists.
To further support the teaching of writing, you may be interested in accessing some of the following resources that are among several excellent links provided on the VDOE site.
- The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Writing Web page
- ReadWriteThink – a collection of English/ Language Arts lessons plans for grades K-12
- View video workshops for teachers that provide practical advice for teaching writing from Annenberg Learner:
View video workshops for teachers that provide practical advice for teaching writing from Annenberg Learner:
- Developing Writers: A Workshop for High School Teachers
- Write in the Middle: A Workshop for Middle School Teachers
- Inside Writing Communities: Grades 3-5
