Scaffolding Writing

Scaffolded packet for the "Spotlight Student" writing assignment (click to enlarge)

When analyzing indicators on which many of my students needed improvement during a pacing meeting, the team and I discussed one specific reading learning indicator related to identifying and analyzing characters. To refocus on this indicator, my mentor, the principal and I planned to implement a writing activity that focuses on a selected student’s traits. I chose to design a series of writing activities that would not only address the indicator on which students needed improvement related to character traits, but also improve their descriptive writing. The first writing assignment I designed was the school improvement plan's activity that we discussed at the pacing meeting, the "Spotlight Student." I designed a week- long, whole-class writing activity packet, where I scaffolded pre-writing activities and activities focusing on character descriptions, in order to allow students to meet the objective of identifying and analyzing characters, as well as improve their descriptive writing abilities.