I’m excited to bring you “Targeted Writing Conferences,” the first video in my new ELA Academy professional development series! Click below to watch. If you’d like some guided notes (I’m a little crazy for these – it’s a shameless plug for AVID-style Cornell Notes), then click here to download and print: Guided notes – TWC

I have a ton of resources to go with this one, so be sure to scroll through the whole list to see what’s here.

HOLISTIC SCORING

Texas Standardized Test Resources

Essays:

STAAR expository essay rubric (9th grade): STAAR expository rubric – Region 10

Same rubric but with what I consider the most important things highlighted: STAAR expository rubric – highlighted

STAAR expository essay scoring guide, with scored essays and explanations: Click here

STAAR persuasive essay rubric (10th grade): STAAR persuasive rubric – Region 10

Same rubric, but with what I consider the most important things highlighted: STAAR persuasive rubric – highlighted

STAAR persuasive essay scoring guide, with scored essays and explanations: Click here

* You might want to have students attach their essay rubric to the inside of their writing folder and/or tape/glue it to a page in their spirals.

Short answer questions (SAQ)s:

STAAR SAQ single-selection rubric: STAAR SAQ single-selection rubric – Region 10

STAAR 9th grade SAQ single-selection scoring guide, with scored SAQs and explanations: Click here

STAAR 10th grade SAQ single-selection scoring guide, with scored SAQs and explanations: Click here

STAAR SAQ connecting selections rubric: STAAR SAQ connecting rubric – Region 10

STAAR 9th grade SAQ connecting selections scoring guide, with scored SAQs and explanations: Click here

STAAR 10th grade SAQ connecting selections scoring guide, with scored SAQs and explanations: Click here

Here’s my slightly slimmed-down version of each rubric, which focuses on the main things that keep an SAQ response from being the next score point higher. I have students cut it in half and tape/glue to a page in their spirals: SAQ single and connecting rubrics – for spiral

Other:

Need more? Here’s the main STAAR writing resources page on TEA’s website: Click here

SAT Essay Resources

SAT Essay Scoring (basically a rubric but you have to click on each score point to get a description – if anyone has found or made a nice, single document for each one, please share!): Click here

Teacher Implementation Guide for the New SAT (scroll to pg. 89 to see sample scored essays with explanations): Click here

AP Lang/Lit Essay Resources

AP Lang rubric and lots of sample scored essays (see “Sample Responses”) for different years: Click here

AP Lit rubric and lots of sample scored essays (see “Sample Responses”) for different years: Click here

Generic AP essay rubric with suggested grades for each score for AP and Pre-AP from Jerry Brown (APSI presenter): Generic AP Lit essay rubric from Jerry Brown

Six Traits Writing

Info on 6+1 Traits from the NEA: Click here

Six Traits rubric on the JFK Center for the Performing Arts website: Click here

Student Scoring

In one activity, I had students get 3 peers to score their SAQs. The scorers had to give each SAQ a score and also a brief justification (like 1, no inference). There’s a space for the writer to agree with or dispute the scores they received. Click here to download the scoring sheet: Student SAQ scoring sheet

In another activity, I had students write SAQs in a group, then collectively score other groups’ SAQs. Click here to download the scoring sheet: SAQ group scoring sheet

TARGETED WRITING CONFERENCES

Form

Sample writing conference form, which has a place for students to reflect on the 1st draft before turning it in, 1st draft score and comments, note-taking during the conference, and reflection afterward: Writing Conference Form

Helpful Links

Composing Conversations: Implementing Writing Conversations in High School (from North Carolina Public Schools): Click here

High School English and the Teacher-Student Writing Conference: Fine Tuned Duets in the Ensemble of the Classroom (sample WC conversations and explanations from the National Writing Project): Click here

How to Improve the Quality of Writing Conferences (packet from a Kentucky Educational Television professional development workshop): Click here

* There are plenty more – honestly, these were just the first three hits from a Google search I did, and they all look awesome. Go see what else is out there that fits your teaching style and your students’ needs!

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