Write Source K-5

Funding Options Title I Title IC Title IIA Title III Title VI-B Title VII Special Ed Supplemental Services Even Start Comprehensive School Reform Smaller Learning Communities

rite Source builds the foundation for an extremely active, engaging writing-based language arts program for grades K-5. Write Source supports teachers by providing them with the materials they need to teach writing effectively and empowers students by giving them an extensive writing resource that emphasizes the literacy skills for writing and learning that they will depend on in all of their classes and throughout their lives.

Research

Effective writing instruction is an essential part of every child’s education. The ability to write effectively is vital in today’s world. Writing is a survival skill in school—an important tool for learning, understanding, and remembering—that is needed to succeed in all courses from elementary school through college. It is an important social skill, enabling communication across distances by email and letters. Writing is a primary mode of creative self-expression, allowing students to project their unique selves into the world around them. Writing is also a source of voice and empowerment in a democratic society, an avenue for making opinions public and persuading others. Writing is a life skill, needed to apply for a job, perform a job, and advance in a career. Above all, writing is thinking. When students write, they reflect, analyze, and reconsider. Developing writing skills means developing thinking skills, which will help children grow into thoughtful, reasoning adults.

The Write Source program is a resource for teachers who recognize the importance of effective writing instruction. The activities and strategies presented are based on the best of current research and practice advocated by classroom teachers, administrators, teacher educators, and policymakers alike. The Write Source program provides students with the skills they need to succeed in school, preparing them ultimately for college and the workplace. In the program, students develop their thinking skills by learning how to choose and develop their own topics, find information, evaluate the quality of sources, think through relevant issues, formulate a thesis, support an argument, and draw logical conclusions.

The Write Source program presents writing as a process; provides students with frequent opportunities to write; fosters students’ ability to assess and revise their own writing; builds grammar, punctuation, and spelling skills; and develops students’ overall literacy skills, including those of struggling learners and non-native English speakers.

Great Source Research and Efficacy Reports Available

Download the complete Write Source Research and Efficacy report

Evaluation and Assessment

Activities, sample assessments, and rubrics for evaluating different modes of writing are included in each grade level Write Source Program Guide.

Professional Development

Write Source Langauge Programs may be implemented with on-site teacher training to ensure fidelity of implementation.  In addition, dynamic Write Traits ® Instruction and Assessment workshops introduce proven assessment and instructional strategies the 6-traits – key characteristics of effective writing.  In Write Traits ® workshops participants learn to identify the traits, practice trait language, and explore how the traits support process-based writing instruction.

Workshops can be customized for district-level or school-level implementations. More information is available through your Great Source representative or by contacting  Write Traits ® at 1-800-825-1739 or online at  www.gsprofessionaldevelopment.com.

Parental Involvement

Write Source handbooks are unique resources that students and parents can turn to for help with writing topics, homework assignments, and support in test preparation.  In addition, elementary level Language Programs include “Parent Connections” – ideas and activities aligned with in-class lessons that help parents reinforce their children’s writing and learning skills at home.

	Grant applications often ask for detailed narrative on Great Source products. You may be required to include information on a product's scientific background, its efficacy research, assessments, the professional development model, or correlation to core programs and state standards. The content of this page is designed to help you fill this requirement. If more information is required, contact your local Great Source representative

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