Improving Writing Outcomes Project 2024; PROJECT REGISTRATION PAGE

What will the course cover?

Session 1

Recent research has found that student writing results have declined in Australia over the decade and many teachers have expressed that they do not feel confident when teaching writing.

This session will cover:

• What current research is telling us and the aims of the Project.

• An overview of writing models and how these conceptual frameworks can be used to build an instructional platform to support the complexity of writing instruction.

• Unpacking Structured Literacy.

• An overview of the 6+1 Writing Traits and how this model can be used as a feedback tool and to develop a common language to talk about writing and allow teachers to provide targeted feedback.

• An introduction to the Ideas trait and how to inspire children to write.

• Unpacking of own class/school data- what is it telling you.

• Explanation of task to be completed before second session.

Session 2

One of the recommendations made by the Australian Education Research Organisation’s (AERO) report into declining student writing results was the need to allow teachers to access high quality and systematic professional learning opportunities in the writing domain.

The report also highlighted the need to prioritise writing instruction across all years of primary and secondary schooling, increasing the amount of time students spend both composing and receiving quality writing instruction.

This session will cover:

• An introduction to Cognitive Load Theory and how this applies to Writing Instruction.

• An overview of Explicit Direct Instruction- the instructional model associated with Structured Literacy.

• The daily review.
• Some practical examples of transcription routines you can use with students to support sentence level writing.

• Suggestions for timetabling and structuring your literacy block.

• How to create a motivating and supportive writing culture within your classroom or school.

• Sharing of practice from previous session.

Session 3

Another recommendation made by the Australian Education Research Organisation’s (AERO) report into declining student writing results, was the need to ensure adequate sentence-level writing instruction across the primary and secondary years.

The report also recommended embedding grammar and punctuation instruction in meaningful writing tasks.

This session will cover

• The importance of developing oral language skills across all year levels.

• Introducing the Hochman Method /Writing Revolution and how it can be used to improve sentence structure in student writing and to embed grammar and punctuation lessons in the content of what you are teaching.

• Introduction to the Word Choice Trait.

• The importance of explicit Vocabulary instruction.

• Follow up and sharing of practice and ideas from previous session.

• Explanation of task to be completed before the fourth session.

Recent research has highlighted the need for high quality professional learning options for teachers in the writing domain. Such professional learning should include building teacher knowledge about the qualities of good writing and explicit sentence level instruction.

This session will cover:

• Unpacking V9 of the Australian Curriculum.

• Data literacy - interpreting student writing results from this year’s NAPLAN results and using the data to inform practice.

• Tips on how to writing assess writing.

• The Writing Revolution Session 2, including the importance of developing a whole school approach to establish consistency in curriculum and the teaching of writing.

• An introduction to the Organisation Trait.

• Follow up and sharing of practice and ideas from previous session.

• An opportunity for reflection and celebration.

Project Sessions

Session 1

• 20 Feb 2024.

Session 2

• 9 May 2024.

Session 3

• 1 Aug 2024.

Session 4

• 7 Nov 2024.