High Quality Work
Claim #2
Fox Creek students’ writing continues to improve across all genres and disciplines. Student's focus on the value of peer critique, multiple drafts, authenticity and complexity.
Claim #2
Fox Creek students’ writing continues to improve across all genres and disciplines. Student's focus on the value of peer critique, multiple drafts, authenticity and complexity.
4th grade Everything Has a Purpose Book
“When we were creating this book we really focused on the importance of multiple drafts. We would do a draft, get peer feedback, make changes, get some more feedback. We used this same process for the writing as well as the drawings. This whole process helps because it forces you to focus on the details that you might have overlooked if you were doing it all on your own. We were all so proud of the book. My grandma even bought one!” Jack, 4th Grader
Description: Students created meaning through both a poem and a paragraph on an animal and ecosystem of their choice as part of a learning expedition around ecosystems. Many drafts were completed after studying mentor texts by Joyce Sidman and Sharon Creech. Students created criteria lists to self-evaluate and peer-evaluate the characteristics for the poems and paragraphs.
6th Grade pamphlet on invasive species
“The process in which we were making our brochures was an extensive, exciting, and fun process. One very helpful component to creating our brochures was peer critiquing. Peer critiquing is when you meet with a group of usually 1 to 2 people, depending on the project, and then those individuals look at your work and give you feedback. Three rules we always make sure to follow when giving peer critiques are, be kind, be specific, and be helpful. These “rules” helped us to be supportive and show compassion for our classmates’ work on brochures (writing and illustrations). These rules also guide the critiquer when giving the writer/artist thinking points on where they could go next with their work to ultimately achieve a high quality product.” Rita, 6th Grader
Description: During our first expedition, students chose a specific invasive species that is currently threatening Colorado to research and write about. As a culmination of their knowledge, students created pamphlets that raised awareness and understanding about invasive species in Colorado. Through the use of multiple drafts, peer critiques, and a guiding rubric the students synthesized their thinking into a pamphlet that could be understood by a wide audience.
3rd grade Narratives
“I think that I have grown the most in slowing down the movement of my story. I also used more descriptive words to give the reader a clearer image of what I am wanting to tell them.” Natalie, 3rd Grader
Description: At the start of the year, our crew focuses on getting to know others. We want to help them to connect to each other for the sake of classroom cohesiveness. We read multiple narrative stories to discuss, connect, and question how the characters show habits of character. Students use these stories as a springboard to write their own personal narrative about a time they showed a habit of character (like courage or perseverance). This expedition serves as a vehicle for teaching both reading and writing strategies, standards, and skills. The reading comprehension skill of questioning is highlighted; we use peer questioning as our main vehicle for story growth and revision. Peer collaboration and input begin with conferring about writing ideas and continue with responses from peers after reviewing a story mountain planning document. Teachers confer 1:1 with each student during Writer’s Workshop. At many stages within the process, students share their drafts in Author’s Chair with the purpose of clarification through questioning. Students then share their drafts and confer with sixth-grade Learning Buddies. These more experienced writers/readers ask clarifying questions about the stories. Third graders revise stories to clarify and add details to elaborate their narratives. Final drafts are published, and classmates and those attending the Celebration of Learning connect their experiences to third graders’ stories using a comment sheet. These authentic connections to others really build our community’s understanding of each other.
