On Writing

Listen to any College Visit Day presentation on what employers want in job-seeking graduates and a top need will be clear: students who can effectively communicate through the written word.

Traditionally, Mounds View Public Schools has provided a quality writing curriculum, but in true recognition of the ‘process for learning’ writing is, the district is implementing a new K-12 Writing Framework rolled out at an April ’15 board meeting (per Agenda Item 4.0) this school year.

As a proponent of ramping up writing for a considerable period of time, it appears writing rigor will be in vogue for District 621, given the training & support district educators received during the month of August for enhancing their 15-16 instruction.

Ironically, the district’s renewed emphasis on writing ties to the 2013 Minnesota Legislature’s repeal of the GRAD Rule in the state of Minnesota, which had been keeping an arguably ineffective GRAD writing exam in place.  The district’s move away from this outdated assessment tool is a positive development; in fact, it’s one I advanced as a citizen advocate beginning December 2010 through the GRAD rule repeal by the Legislature.  (Incidentally, the linked policy paper that analyzes the writing exam’s worth involved interviews with three Mounds View Schools educators.)

Among the shifts in writing focus the district curriculum will be undergoing:

• Increased informational & opinion writing based on evidence-based research
• Routinely-performed writing across the school day & not just within English Language Arts classes
• Stronger integration of electronic writing platforms while maintaining standards in language & grammar
• Incorporation of common assessments (without adding new tests) to more effectively gauge students’ writing progress

To accomplish these objectives, professional learning communities involving teachers, literacy coaches, instructional strategies facilitators and curriculum & instruction leaders have been formed.

In the Dickensian vein, “it is the best of times, it is the worst of times” for writing.

For those students who draw upon the commanding methods for retrieving information from the global mind via the Internet, then employ hassle-free word apps for composing & transmitting works to their audiences– it will be the best of times for writing.

But for those stuck in ‘text mode’ only, who insist on making symbols and abbreviations their only form of creative expression, it will be the worst of times for writing.

Valuable it will be if budding writers in District 621 (& their parents) respond to the strengthening of the writing curriculum in the Mounds View Public Schools.