Step-Up to

Writing

Introduction• Step Up to Writing® features

research-based, validated strategies and activities that help students proficiently write narrative, personal narrative, and expository pieces; actively engage in reading materials for improved comprehension; and demonstrate competent study skills.

Additional Research Based Information

• Through explicit instruction in organizational schemes, students are taught in small groups to organize their ideas before they write.

• Drawing on multisensory techniques, students are taught to use color coding to visualize writing organization by equating the colors of a traffic signal with different parts of a written piece.

• Students structure and place main ideas and supporting information to achieve organized paragraphs.

The Traffic SignalGO - Topic Sentence

SLOW DOWN – ReasonsSLOW DOWN – ReasonsDetails / FactsDetails / Facts

STOP - Explain

GO BACK - Conclusion

GREEN• Green means GO! • Topic Sentence • Green asks the writer to decide:

– What am I going to prove? – What am I going to explain? – What information will I share?

• Conclusion Sentence – Go back to the topic. – Restate the topic and the position. – Do not introduce new information. – Can also be used as a transition sentence linking

paragraphs.

Riding a roller coaster is the most frightening thing I have ever done in my life.

YELLOW• Yellow means SLOW DOWN! • Give Details to support the topic.

– Reasons– Facts & Details– Important Information

• Introduce key concepts to support the topic sentence.

• Use a transition to organize each detail sentence. – First, Next, Then, Finally, Additionally, etc.

Riding a roller coaster is the most frightening thing I have ever done in my life. The scariest part was the speed. Another frightening aspect of the ride was the noise. Finally, the loops nearly pushed me over the edge.

RED• Red means STOP! • Stop and Explain

– Explain the information you just gave in the Yellow sentence

• Present evidence • Provide examples

Riding a roller coaster is the most frightening thing I have ever done in my life. The scariest part was the speed. The ride was so fast that it caused me to get nauseas. Another frightening aspect of the ride was the noise. The ride made all sorts of creaking and crackling noises as if it were about to collapse. Finally, the loops nearly pushed me over the edge. The entire time I was certain I would plummet to my death. The speed, noise, and loops made riding a roller coaster the scariest event of my life.

BLUE• Gives background information

• Educates or entertains the reader

• Provides a lead

• Acts as a “Grabber”

Have you ever been so afraid of something that you thought you might die? Riding a roller coaster is the most frightening thing I have ever done in my life. The scariest part was the speed. The ride was so fast that it caused me to get nauseas. Another frightening aspect of the ride was the noise. The ride made all sorts of creaking and crackling noises as if it were about to collapse. Finally, the loops nearly pushed me over the edge. The entire time I was certain I would plummet to my death. The speed, noise, and loops made riding a roller coaster the scariest event of my life.

Social StudiesSample Paragraph

“Egypt”

Artisans played a unique role in Egypt’s social pyramid.

Artisans played a unique role in Egypt’s social pyramid. First, the artisans were creative in many different ways. They were carpenters, sculptures, painters, potters, jewelers, and metal workers.

Artisans played a unique role in Egypt’s social pyramid. First, the artisans were creative in many different ways. They were carpenters, sculptures, painters, potters, jewelers, and metal workers. The most skilled artisans were the stone carvers. They created statues, coffins, and engraving found in tombs, temples, and monuments.

Artisans played a unique role in Egypt’s social pyramid. First, the artisans were creative in many different ways. They were carpenters, sculptures, painters, potters, jewelers, and metal workers. The most skilled artisans were the stone carvers. They created statues, coffins, and engraving found in tombs, temples, and monuments. Finally, the artisans were often unrecognized and under appreciated. They lived modestly in small dwellings and worked for long periods before taking a break. Artisans were hard working, creative, and skilled laborers who were an instrumental part of ancient Egyptian culture.

Paragraph Template

Topic: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Detail: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Explain: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Detail: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Explain: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Detail: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Explain: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Implementation in Class• Template• Colored dots• Highlighter• Word Walls• Writing Across the Curriculum• Writing Process

– Pre-Write– Drafting– Edit– Revise– Publish

TOPICParagraph #1

Detail #1Paragraph #2

Detail #2Paragraph #3

Detail #2Paragraph #4

Scariest DayParagraph #1

Scariest DayParagraph #1

SPEEDParagraph #2

Scariest DayParagraph #1

SPEEDParagraph #2

NOISEParagraph #3

Scariest DayParagraph #1

SPEEDParagraph #2

NOISEParagraph #3

LOOPSParagraph #4

TopicParagraph #1

Detail #1Paragraph #2

Detail #2Paragraph #3

Detail #3Paragraph #4

Detail/Exp Detail/Exp

Detail/ExpDetail/Exp

The Importance For All Teachers• Consistency

– Language– Process– Skills

• Understanding– Current writing strategies

• Collaboration (PLC)– Across grade levels and curriculum– Improved instruction, expectations, and success.

QUESTIONS!