Middle School Corner: Middle School launches first ever Common Writing assessment; Aims to fulfill #1 2006 Obj--Improved Writing and Reading

Jerry Roth, Principal
Reading/Language Arts Curriculum Focus
The middle school reading and language arts classes are in the heart of our
interdisciplinary themes. We are continuing to offer students a number of choices in their
reading, striving to meet the needs of every learner, while furthering to develop research skills
and critical thinking skills, and especially continuing with our efforts in using the Six Traits of
Writing.
The most exciting event occurring at the middle school for the reading/language arts
department is our first common writing assessment. Every student is writing an essay to a
particular prompt for their grade level, which will be scored by the entire teaching staff at the
middle school. On our half day in April, all teachers will have the opportunity to use the Six
Traits to score two traits on student papers. The student papers are being divided so that each
teacher will score approximately 25 papers. Students are writing the essays, using the writing
process, in their language arts classes. Papers will then be organized, scored and kept in folders
to check student progress annually. The middle school language arts department has organized
this process, and the entire teaching staff is participating in the scoring of this assessment.