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Writing Across the Curriculum in Secondary Grades

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Writing Across the Curriculum in Secondary Grades

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Will be offered throughout the SY24-25 School Year. Visit APLD and use search term "assessing secondary writing" to find the latest offering.

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Lauren Spenceley, M.Ed.

Secondary ELA Specialist

Arizona Department of Education

Email: lauren.spenceley@azed.gov

Phone:602-364-2267

Website: Secondary ELA Webpage

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6th grade – counterclaim not mentioned

7th grade – counterclaim not mentioned, however “acknowledge alternate/opposing claims”

8th grade and beyond – explicitly mentions counterclaim

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More in-depth session on Argument Writing from K-5 to 6-12

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More in-depth session on Argument Writing from K-5 to 6-12

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literary analyses *really a blend of informational and argument, especially if they make a claim (rubric)

scientific and historical reports

summaries

précis writing (gist statements)

workplace and functional writing; such as, instructions, manuals, memos, reports, applications, and résumés

You can also check out the recording and slide deck from this summer's "Writing for College, Career, and Beyond" webinar.

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Lesson for teaching difference between persuasive and argumentative

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Lesson for teaching difference between persuasive and argumentative

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https://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategy-guides/developing-evidence-based-arguments

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Pg. 10 of the IES guide - Explicitly teach students how to break down any writing prompt they may encounter.

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Pg. 43 of the IES guide - Formative Assessment – regularly monitor student progress in writing. For example: Exit Slips and Error analysis

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Member Resource Center - Keys to Literacy

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Welcome to the Keys to Literacy Resource Center! This site is designed to support Coaches, Administrators and Keys to Literacy Level I Trainers who are using our routines. The Resource Center is password-protected and should only be used by Coaches, Administrators and Level I Trainers who have been granted access by Keys to Literacy.

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Visit the English Language Arts Webpage to access:

the 6-12 Standards

Vertical Articulation document

Glossary of terms

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4-24-24 6-12th Grade Writing Standards Webinar

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ACT (11th grade) and ACT Aspire (9th grade) - Scroll down to the "Resources" blue bar on each side to find Writing rubrics and other resources.

You will also find "AZ State Standards Alignment Guide for the ACT and ACT Aspire" as well as an "Arizona Alignment Matrix" on this page.

There is also an ACT-hosted website for Arizona.

AASA 6-8 Writing - Scroll down until you find the blue bar that says "AASA Writing Resources" and you will find 6-8 Argumentative Rubric, 6-8 Informative-Explanatory Rubric, and other resources.

You will also find Performance Level Descriptors and Item Specifications here: https://www.azed.gov/assessment/resources

Writing examples https://www.azed.gov/sites/default/files/2023/01/AASA%20Writing%20Resources.pdf

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AASA

Arizona's Academic Standards Assessment (AASA) is the statewide achievement test for Arizona students in Grades 3-8. All Arizona public school students in Grades 3-8 will take the grade level AASA assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

AASA Testing Dates

Spring 2024 Testing

Computer-Based Testing: April 1 - April 26, 2024

Writing must be completed by April 12, 2024

Paper-Based Testing: April 1 - April 10, 2024

Writing must be scheduled for April 1 or 2, 2024

AASA Sample Test
Scoring Guides for Sample Tests ELA Math
Grade 3 Oral Reading Fluency

The Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) test section is administered to all third grade students.

AASA Blueprints and Cut Scores
AASA ELA Blueprints AASA Math Blueprints AASA Cut Scores
AASA Item Specifications
ELA Item Specifications Math Item Specifications
Performance Level Descriptors

These PLDs are aligned to the 2016 English Language Arts Standards and Mathematics Standards.
ELA Math
AASA Writing Resources
AASA Writing Resources - Descriptions Writing Rubrics Writing Guides Writing Rubric Guides Annotated Writing Samples Guides Writing Prompt Templates
Grade level prompt templates can be found in the Item Specifications documents for your grade level.

AASA Additional ELA Resources
ELA Read-Aloud Guidance for Paper-Based Testing
AASA Additional Math Resources
Math
Read-Aloud Guidance for Paper-Based Testing

ACT Aspire

ACT Aspire is the statewide high school achievement test administered to students in Grade 9/Cohort 2027 in Spring 2024.

ACT Aspire Testing Dates

Computer-Based Testing Window: April 1-26, 2024

Paper-Based Test Window: April 1 - 10, 2024
K-12 Academic Standards Kindergarten Entry Assessment ADE Assistive Technology Resources
AzSCI

AzSCI, Arizona's statewide achievement test for Science, is administered to students in Grade 5 (equally covering domains from Grades 3/4/5 standards), Grade 8 (equally covering domains from Grade 6/7/8 standards), and Grade 11/Cohort 2025 (equally covering domains from high school standards) in Spring 2024.

AzSCI Testing Dates

AzSCI Test Window

March 18 - April 12, 2024

AzSCI Sample Test

Scoring Guides for Sample Tests

Blueprints and Item Specifications
AzSCI Item Specifications
AzSCI Performance Level Descriptors

AzSCI Cut Scores

AzSCI Cut Scores - Board-approved July 2022

AzSCI Exhibits

Additional Resources

ACT

ACT is the statewide high school achievement test administered to students in Grade 11/Cohort 2025 in Spring 2024.

ACT Testing Dates
ACT Test Window 1

Paper (Standard): March 26, 2024

Paper (Accommodations): March 26-29 and April 1-5, 2024

Online (Standard & Accommodations): March 26-29 and April 1-5, 2024

ACT Test Window 2

Paper (Standard): April 9, 2024

Paper (Accommodations): April 9-12 and April 15-19, 2024

Onlnie (Standard & Accommodations): April 9-12 and April 15-19, 2024

For Spring 2024, schools may utilize both published state ACT test windows in order to assess all Cohort 2025 students. Schools are encouraged to administer the ACT during the first test window and to use the second test wnidow, as needed, to complete any makeup testing. Schools administering ACT on paper may also use the online test dates for makeup testing. Any schools that choose to administer the ACT during only the second test window will not have an additional ACT test window to use for makeup testing.

Test window selection will be made in ACT's PearsonAccess next platform in Fall 2023.

Arizona ACT Performance Level Descriptors

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Educator Committees Arizona's test development process involves an extensive review before an item will count toward students' test scores. During the item-development process, all assessment items are written in accordance with Item Specifications. A committee of Arizona educators reviews and approves the items to confirm alignment and appropriateness for inclusion on the test.

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Vertical Articulation of Writing Standards

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Vertical Articulation of Writing Standards

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creative fictional stories

memoirs

anecdotes

autobiographies

*Helpful resources: narrative writing unit, using personal essays as models, autobiographies for teens, anecdote examples

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IES Guide: "Teaching Secondary Students to Write Effectively"

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IES Guide: "Teaching Secondary Students to Write Effectively"

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https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/practiceguide/22
A set of recommendations for evidence-based best practices to address challenges in classrooms and schools for writing in the secondary classroom, provided by the Institute of Education Sciences. The website provides a full guide for educator use.

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Model:

Strategies in IES guide pg. 19-21

Mentor texts for informational writing

Practice:

Strategies in IES guide pg. 22-23

Informational/Expository Sentence Frames – including transitions for different text structures

Graphic Organizers – scaffold to allow for independence – Different Text Structures, Research Papers

Reflect:

Strategies in IES guide pg. 23-27

Expository Writing Revision Checklist– metacognitive questions and reflections

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Model:

Strategies in IES guide pg. 19-21

Mentor Texts for narrative writing Resource 1 and Resource 2

Practice:

Strategies in IES guide pg. 22-23

Narrative Transitional Words and Phrases – transition words for relationships, time shifts, sequence, build suspense

Graphic Organizers – scaffold to allow for independence – Story Map, Memoir

Reflect:

Strategies in IES guide pg. 23-27

Narrative Writing Revision Checklist– metacognitive questions and reflections

Short Story Revision Checklist

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Model:

Strategies in IES guide pg. 19-21

Mentor texts for argument writing

Practice:

Strategies in IES guide pg. 22-23

Argument Writing Sentence Frames

Argument Writing Graphic Organizer

Reflect:

Strategies in IES guide pg. 23-27

Argumentative Writing Self Editing Checklist

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Requires a free account.

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Book Resources :: Chapter 11 - The Writing Revolution

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Chapter 11 A Gauge and a Guide: Assessing Students’ Writing Assessing students’ writing is important as it helps identify the specific skills each student needs to develop, informs the focus areas for the entire class, assists in setting targeted goals for both individual students and the class, and tracks students’ progress throughout the year. Discussion