GETTING STARTED
WITH FORMATIVE WRITING UNITS
This collection of writing lessons has been compiled
and organized to help teachers gather information about
student writing while focusing on particular genres.
Our hope is to maximize the formative
value of using MTN writing units. We invite you to look
through the binder, select units that will complement
what you teach already and help you deepen and expand
your writing program. Here’s what you need to do
to get started:
1. In grade-level, subject area or school teams, select
one or two writing types you want to explore or
reinforce for the school year. Choose particular
writing types to “round out” your
students’ repertoires and/or to expand your
teaching.
2. Calendar the formative assessment dates, making sure
you leave enough time for preparing students,
administering the units, scoring and evaluating scores,
then coming up with instruction to address issues from
the writing.
3. Consult the MTN calendar to see dates that have
already been set aside after school to bring teachers
together around each of the genres and grade level
clusters. Try to take advantage of these dates to get
additional support from MTN.
4. Contact Greg at MTN (945-3735) for additional
support in the classroom, at scoring sessions or
recommendations for
follow-up.