Instructional Leadership Efforts And Evidence Based Practices To Improve Writing Instruction

Writing is a critical skill for academic and professional success, yet it is often neglected in schools. According to achievement data, only a quarter of students in the United States are proficient writers, indicating a significant need for improvement in writing instruction. One contributing factor to this problem is the lack of school and district leadership in writing instruction. School improvement efforts are often concentrated on reading and math, leaving writing instruction overlooked. Additionally, issues related to writer identities, self-efficacy in writing, and educator training can also impact the effectiveness of instructional leadership in this critical subject. Instructional Leadership Efforts and Evidence-Based Practices to Improve Writing Instruction, edited by Jennifer VanSlander of Columbus State University, provides within this peer-reviewed book an exploration of evidence-based practices aimed at developing instructional leaders and enhancing student achievement in writing. It covers a broad range of topics related to writing instruction, including learning theories, conceptual models, and the latest empirical research associated with the supervision, organization, implementation, and monitoring of writing programs and instructional approaches. With its emphasis on writer identities, self-efficacy, equitable and inclusive practices, curriculum planning and implementation, assessment, instructional frameworks, and managing instructional change, this book provides educators with a comprehensive guide to improving writing instruction. It is an essential resource for educators who seek to increase the effectiveness of instructional leadership and writing instruction at the classroom, school, or district level.

Well established as a definitive text--and now revised and updated with eight new chapters--this book translates cutting-edge research into effective guidelines for teaching writing in grades K–12. Illustrated with vivid classroom examples, the book identifies the components of a complete, high-quality writing program. Leading experts provide strategies for teaching narrative and argumentative writing; using digital tools; helping students improve specific skills, from handwriting and spelling to sentence construction; teaching evaluation and revision; connecting reading and writing instruction; teaching vulnerable populations; using assessment to inform instruction; and more. New to This Edition *Chapters on new topics: setting up the writing classroom and writing from informational source material. *New chapters on core topics: narrative writing, handwriting and spelling, planning, assessment, special-needs learners, and English learners. *Increased attention to reading–writing connections and using digital tools. *Incorporates the latest research and instructional procedures. See also Handbook of Writing Research, Second Edition, edited by Charles A. MacArthur, Steve Graham, and Jill Fitzgerald, which provides a comprehensive overview of writing research that informs good practice.

Co-published with University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA), this textbook prepares aspiring educational leaders for the important and challenging task of supporting instruction in their schools. Instructional Leadership in the Content Areas equips leaders—who might not have content backgrounds that align with those of the teachers they supervise—with research-based practices and knowledge specific to a range of subject areas. Presenting over 20 problems-based cases at the elementary, middle, and high school levels and across seven areas of content, this book deepens knowledge of exemplary instruction, improves feedback dialogues, and helps leaders work effectively alongside teachers and instructional specialists. Rich with activities, resources, and discussion questions, this casebook provides a broad overview of instructional leadership and the tools for school leaders to improve and support classroom practices across all content areas in intentional ways that support career-long professional growth. Case facilitation notes are available here: www.routledge.com/9781138578845

Highly practical and accessible, this indispensable book provides clear-cut strategies for improving K-12 writing instruction. The contributors are leading authorities who demonstrate proven ways to teach different aspects of writing, with chapters on planning, revision, sentence construction, handwriting, spelling, and motivation. The use of the Internet in instruction is addressed, and exemplary approaches to teaching English-language learners and students with special needs are discussed. The book also offers best-practice guidelines for designing an effective writing program. Focusing on everyday applications of current scientific research, the book features many illustrative case examples and vignettes.

Backed by solid research, Writing Instruction That Works answers the following question: What is writing instruction today and what can it be tomorrow? This up-to-date, comprehensive book identifies areas of concern for the ways that writing is being taught in todays secondary schools. The authors offer far-reaching direction for improving writing instruction that assist both student literacy and subject learning. They provide many examples of successful writing practices in each of the four core academic subjects (English, mathematics, science, and social studies/history), along with guidance for meeting the Common Core standards. The text also includes sections on Technology and the Teaching of Writing and English Language Learners.

Assessing Disciplinary Writing in Both Research and Practice tackles the challenge of measuring writing skills in specific content areas, which is crucial for preparing students to communicate as field experts and for their future careers. Edited by Katherine Wright, Associate Professor of Literacy and Language at Boise State University, and Tracey Hodges, Founder and Lead Consultant of The Empowering Advocate, this book provides solutions by bringing together validated measures and practical assessment strategies that can be used in both research and instruction. The book's theoretical foundations cover multimodal disciplinary writing, assessing disciplinary writing versus content-area writing, and using assessment as a tool for disciplinary writing instruction. Practical methods for assessing writing in social studies, science, mathematics, English and language arts, and other genres at the elementary, middle, and high school levels are included, as well as assessment strategies for specific populations of students such as undergraduate students, English learners, gifted and talented students, special needs students, and incarcerated students. This highly valued reference is essential for academic scholars, K12 teachers, and educational researchers who want to improve writing instruction and research in content- and discipline-specific areas. By providing validated measures and methods for assessing disciplinary writing, this edited book helps bridge the gap between research and practice and enables practitioners to better measure student growth and improve writing instruction. This publication is the first step towards advancing research and improving writing instruction in content- and discipline-specific areas.

Taking Initiative on Writing: A Guide for Instructional Leaders provides research-based resources for principals who want to develop effective programs of writing instruction in their schools. Writing is an essential skill for learning in secondary school and for life after graduation. New national standards feature writing as a core area for college and career readiness. Following the plan outlined here will help students meet these new standards. Individual teachers can make important contributions to the development of student writers, but only instructional leaders can engender schoolwide improvement. This guide is designed for busy and cost-conscious instructional leaders who want to develop an effective program of writing instruction that includes assessing the current program, developing plans, implementing action steps, and sustaining innovations over time. With an online component that enables readers to access resources and communicate with one another, this guide is designed to help leaders meet the challenge of preparing students to meet new national standards for writing.

Extant literature on evidence-based instructional strategies mediated by elementary and secondary school leaders is surprisingly scant. Seeking to fill the gap, the editors of this book have curated the research and craft knowledge of eminent and emergent practitioner scholars who collectively provide a starting place for aspiring and practicing principals. Each author builds on research-based instructional practice in schools and districts in which they have worked, either as principals or as school-university or service-provider partners. They provide examples, action plans, frameworks, lessons learned, and strategies to successfully develop and implement research- based instruction and supporting structures in schools and classrooms. University principal-preparation program planners, public school district leaders, and alternative leadership- preparation providers will find this book eminently useful. Similarly, members of National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Middle School Association, National Association of Secondary School Principals, University Council of Educational Administration Leadership for School Improvement Special Interest Group, Learning and Teaching in Educational Leadership Special Interest Group, and American Education Researchers Association Division A will find relevance to their work.

Writing is a critical component for teaching children about advocacy and empowering student voice, as well as an essential tool for learning in many disciplines. Yet, writing instruction in schools often focuses on traditional methods such as the composition of five-paragraph essays or the adherence to proper grammatical conventions. While these are two components of writing instruction and preparation in education, they only provide a small glimpse into the depth and breadth of writing. As such, writing instruction is increasingly complex and requires multiple perspectives and levels of skill among teachers. The Handbook of Research on Writing Instruction Practices for Equitable and Effective Teaching serves as a comprehensive reference of issues related to writing instruction and leading research about perspectives, methods, and approaches for equitable and effective writing instruction. It includes practices beyond K-12, including best writing practices at the college level as well as the development of future teachers. Providing unique coverage on culturally relevant writing, socio- and racio-linguistic justice, and urgent writing pedagogies, this major reference work is an indispensable resource for administrators and educators of both K-12 and higher education, pre-service teachers, teacher educators, libraries, government officials, researchers, and academicians.

Lead for efficacy in these disruptive times! Just as the digital landscape is constantly evolving, the second edition of Digital Leadership moves past trends and fads to focus on the essence of leading innovative change in education now and in the future. As society and technology evolve at what seems a dizzying pace, the demands on leaders are changing as well. With a greater emphasis on leadership dispositions, this revamped edition also features New structure and organization emphasizing the interconnectivity of the Pillars of Digital Leadership to drive sustainable change Innovative strategies and leadership practices that enhance school culture and drive learning improvement Updated vignettes from digital leaders who have successfully implemented the included strategies New online resources, informative graphics, and end of chapter guiding questions Now is the time to embrace innovation, technology, and flexibility to create a learning culture that provides students with 21st century critical competencies!