Set Goals In Writing and Achieve Them: Christy Hodge

[Christy]

Hi My name is Christy Hodge. I teach sixth grade Social Studies, Language Arts, and Art at Depoali Middle School. This year is the first year and opening of Depoali Middle School. It is my first time teaching in a middle school environment, teaching sixth grade, and opening a new school. All have been an intense and amazing experience. It has been a year of trial and error and fun with technology to say the least. I currently teach a total of 70 students for core classes. I have about 35 students in each block. I am very proud of the positive atmosphere within my team. We focus on a team structure in the sixth grade. My partner and I have done a great job of creating a positive learning environment for our team of 70 students. The students all get along for the most part and are rarely reluctant to share thoughts or add to group discussions. In my classroom I focus on group work often. My students do this well, while maintaining conduct and order within the classroom. They truly help one another and recognize the strengths and weaknesses within their groups. They really work hard on a daily basis. I am very proud of my students.

 

In my classroom I have had much success in teaching the writing traits using goal setting and data analysis with my students. I would like to share with all of you how I do this with my students. My tentative essential questions is: "How can students use goal setting and data analysis to improve their writing?" I was shown this technique through a writing class at Hunter Lake Elementary. We used it school wide and saw our writing scores improve drastically. It is a technique that can be adapted for any subject and can be used across the curriculum. It is based off of the Balldridge program and has been used in schools across the country as well as in the corporate world. I begin this by focusing on one writing trait at a time. I decide on one thing I wish to teach within that trait. Currently we are working on good hooks in organization. We set a class goal and work together to achieve the goal. The students can self monitor their writing, figure out what they need to achieve the goal, and work as a class to reach the class goal. Once our goal is achieved we move on to another piece of the trait we would like to focus on. The students take responsibility and ownership in their learning while I present a graph and the data analysis to them. The students love to see their growth and show much enthusiasm for their writing. The graphing piece is a huge success. I feel students need to see their growth and be able to celebrate it! How do you motivate your students to become better writers?

[Rose Whistler]

In our first grade classroom, we make writing an everyday event. From the first day of school to the last, the students write in response to literature, in journals, in writing centers, in writing workshop, they write about the art they create, and on and on. Presently, we have been allowing them time to compare their writing from the first day of school to now. It is so fun to see their reactions to the growth they have made, and with first graders it is very evident!

The traits are introduced in much the same manner as you have described, one at a time. I will be interested to see your presentation so that I can glean some techniques that might help me be more consistent. Goal setting and data analysis are important in order for students to know where they are going with their writing. I would like to put this in place in the coming year.

[Nicole Marvin]

I think this is a great motivation technique. Any visual to convey progress to students is awesome. This is great for both younger and older students. Writing happens in more than just my classroom on campus, students usually write daily in every class. I have a really hard time grading poetry- who is to say what is and is not "good" poetry? At least that is my viewpoint. I've started to underline or circle my favorite lines in my student work and that has motivated them to believe that they too can write poetry as well as begin a place to converse about their work. We as teachers want to see progress, that is why we try to improve all the time, why wouldn't our students desire the same? Can't wait to see more!

[Kelly Rubero]

Chrisy wrote:
"We set a class goal and work together to achieve the goal".

Hi Christy,
I really like the idea of our students taking responsibility and ownership during their writing and learning. I think this is a technique that teachers across content and grade levels can use in their classroom!
I am really looking forward to your presentation,
Kelly

[Nadyne Burra]

Getting students to buy into their education is half the battle. I have had much difficulty motivating special education students to write. I have given them prompts, I have given them choice over the topic, and I have let them choose the topic but they always seem to fall when it comes to writing. Your way of motivating students sounds like a genuine way to make them responsible for their writing abilities. I look forward to your presentation, so I can borrow some of your ideas to motivate my own students.