6-12 Literacy Update
December 8, 2014
APS Extended Response Assessment (Writing Diagnostic II)
Purpose: To better prepare our students for the CCSS and the GA Milestones Assessment, our writing diagnostics have a new type of writing prompt that focuses on a key instructional shift---writing grounded in evidence from the text. Because the GA Milestones will not include “stand alone” writing prompts, students will be expected to read one or two passages and then write a composition that includes evidence from the text(s) in the response. This kind of prompt demands more than writing skills alone. Now students must read texts carefully to determine what evidence is most relevant and then create an organized, well-written composition that incorporates that evidence. The diagnostic prompts introduce evidence-based writing to students by asking them to use text(s) to support their ideas about a given topic.
Testing Window:
December 15, 2014 - January 9, 2015 (On-Demand Writing-1 Class Period)
Input Scores into Infinite Campus by January 23, 2015.
(The grading session will be closed.)
Test Administration
Test administrators may read aloud the Writer’s Checklist, the Writing Directions, and the Writing Topic.
However, the reading passages on the writing test must not be read aloud or signed to students, except for those students with the accommodations.
Materials Needed
two pencils,
the writing prompt,
a page for taking notes (brainstorming/outlining),
two rough-draft pages, and
two final draft pages.
Scoring Procedures
- Use the APS Condensed Rubric to score each of the 6 Trait writing domains.
- Input the scores into Infinite Campus.
- After scoring the student papers, please provide the students with feedback and collect the essays.
GA High School Writing Test
Kudos! Ninety-six (96) percent of all APS grade eleven first-time test takers met or exceeded the standard on the Fall 2014 GHWT. The district demonstrated an increase of two (2) percentage points as compared to 2013. Click Fall 2014 GHWT Snapshot for more details.
Key Findings:
*Since 2012, the percent of APS first-time test takers meeting or exceeding the standard has increased by two (2) percentage points.
*The percent of students meeting or exceeding the standard in APS matches the state of Georgia.
*There was improvement from 2013 to 2014 among the following ethnic groups: Asians students increased two (2) percentage points; Black students increased three (3) percentage points; Hispanic students increased four (4) percentage points; White students remained constant at 99 percentage points.
GaDOE - ELA Reporter
Want to know more about what’s going on and what is to come regarding ELA in Georgia? Check out the October/November issue of the ELA Reporter!
In this issue:
Proposed Revisions of the ELA Standards: Your input is valued and NEEDED!
The Value of Formative Writing Assessment: Classroom-based Writing Assessment
The State of ELA in Georgia: Rigorous Academic Writing Triathlon (Phase I, II, III)
Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition: Official deadline to enter is May 17, 2015.
Recommend Resources:
- Writing Pathways by Lucy Calkins
- TDQ Grades 6-12: Pathways to Close & Critical Reading by Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey
GA Milestones Updates
The Assessment Guides for the Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) measures are posted on the Georgia Milestones webpage. These Assessment Guides are provided to acquaint Georgia educators and other stakeholders with the structure and content assessed on the End of Grade (EOG) measures. The guides are a supplemental resource and are provided to complement, not replace, other instructional resources developed by the local school district or the example resources provided by the Curriculum and Instruction Division of the Georgia Department of Education.
Literacy Lunch and Learn
Help your students tackle On-Demand Writing Prompts!
Join us for a 30 minute webinar on Wednesday, December 10th at 12:00 noon! We will learn about:
- Teaching On-Demand Writing Skills
- Teacher Timesavers: Essay Scoring and Feedback
- The Georgia Milestones Writing Rubrics
- How to Join the APS Writing Triathlon
*Additional webinar sessions will be held at 3pm and 4pm on Wednesday as well. Please share this invitation! This webinar series is available for all who can attend.
Click here to Join Lync Meeting
Join by phone +14048021010
- Conference ID: 7531238
Dr. Alisha Hill, 6-12 Literacy Coordinator
ELA SharePoint: http://tinyurl.com/apsELAsite
Remind Updates: Text @aps612 to (678) 866-1954 and/or send an email to aps612@mail.remind.com.
Archived 6-12 Literacy Updates: https://www.smore.com/u/alishahill6
Email: arhill@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Phone: 404-802-2702
Twitter: @DrAlishaHill