Vertical Articulation

Sweetsir teachers spent the April 11th Early Release Day working together to review our writing curriculum.  Each grade level listed on chart paper the major teaching points and lessons they cover throughout the year (such as poetry, personal narrative, nonfiction and writing about small moments). They then presented the overview to the whole group so we could examined the flow across grade levels. This type of "vertical articulation" helps ensure all areas of the core curriculum are being covered adequately without unnecessary overlap.

Teachers left the meeting with a solid k-2 trajectory for our writing curriculum.  This time was also an effective way to acknowledge and celebrate the work teachers have accomplished this year with Kate Donelin, a consultant from Teaching and Learning Alliance. Our focus for the past four years has been on implementing a balanced literacy program that includes Reader's Workshop and Writer's Workshop.

Some of the teaching resources we utilize include:  Units of Study for Primary Writing by Calkins & Colleagues; Talking, Drawing, Writing: Lessons for Our Youngest Writers by Horn & Giacobbe; and the Wilson's Fundations Program.