Taking Initiative on Writing: A Guide for Instructional Leaders
Anne Ruggles Gere, Hannah A. Dickinson, Melinda J. McBee Orzulak, and Stephanie Moody
This site is for busy and cost-conscious instructional leaders who want to develop an effective program of writing instruction.
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. Individual teachers can make important contributions to the development of student writers, but only instructional leaders can engender schoolwide improvement.
Here you will find research-based companion materials for Taking Initiative on Writing: A Guide for Instructional Leaders, a key resource for helping you meet the challenge of preparing students to meet national standards for writing. To get a copy of this book, click on Purchase this Book in the upper left-hand corner. (“Taking Initiative on Writing is a copublication of NCTE and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).”)
Resources (see links below) to accompany the book include:
- Reproducible materials to support implementation of steps described in each chapter
- Surveys
- Integrative media presentations by other instructional leaders
- NING discussions of issues raised by developing plans, implementing action steps, and sustaining innovations over time (click on Join TIOW Discussions in upper left-hand corner)
 | Chapter 1: Surveying Writing Instruction in Your School |
| 1.1 | Survey: Reflecting on the Current Writing Program |  |
| 1.2 | Survey: Taking Stock of Available Writing Resources | |
| 1.3 | Survey: Recruiting Parent/Guardian Perspective and Support | |
| 1.4 | Survey: Understanding Student Writing Practices | |
| 1.5 | Integrated Media: Surveying Writing Instruction | |
| Chapter 2: Recruiting and Supporting Stakeholders |
| 2.1 | Planning Recruitment | |
| 2.2 | Questions to Identify Leaders | |
| 2.3 | Professional Booklist | |
| 2.4 | Powerpoint: The Writing Initiative | |
| 2.5 | Key Writing Terms for Parents/Guardians | |
| 2.6 | Online Material On School and Faculty Change | |
| 2.7 | Integrated Media: Recruiting and Supporting Stakeholders | |
| Chapter 3: Developing Schoolwide Writing Goals |
| 3.1 | Common Core Standards for Writing | |
| 3.2 | Presenting Best Practices in Writing Instruction | |
| 3.3 | Integrated Media: Developing Schoolwide Writing Goals | |
| Chapter 4: Developing Content-Area and Grade-Level Writing Goals |
| 4.1 | Online Resources on Content Area Writing | |
| 4.2 | Best Practices in Content Area Writing Instruction | |
| 4.3 | Analyzing Student Writing | |
| 4.4 | Integrated Media: Developing Content-Area and Grade-Level Writing Goals | |
| Chapter 5: Providing Professional Development |
| 5.1 | Teacher Needs and Professional Development Resources | |
| 5.2 | Leading a Case Discussion of Student Writing | |
| 5.3 | Planning A School Visit | |
| 5.4 | Professional Development Consultants | |
| 5.5 | Resources for Professional Development | |
| 5.6 | Integrated Media: Providing Professional Development | |
| Chapter 6: Structuring Institutional Support |
| 6.1 | Guidelines for Writing Groups | |
| 6.2 | Guidelines for Creating Online Writing Labs (OWLs) | |
| 6.3 | Integrated Media: Structuring Institutional Support | |
| Chapter 7: Assessing Student Learning |
| 7.1 | Establishing Portfolio Evaluation | |
| 7.2 | Analyzing Student Samples | |
| 7.3 | Survey: Assessing Student Development | |
| 7.4 | Integrated Media: Assessing Student Learning | |
| Chapter 8: Evaluating and Recruiting Teachers |
| 8.1 | Forms for Instructional Leader Observation | |
| 8.2 | Teacher Needs and Long Term PD Resources | |
| 8.3 | Sample Interview Protocol | |
| 8.4 | Integrated Media: Evaluating and Recruiting Teachers | |
| Chapter 9: Conducting Programmatic Assessment |
| 9.1 | Curriculum and Benchmark Check-ins | |
| 9.2 | Survey: Assessing Initiative Implementation | |
| 9.3 | Integrated Media: Conducting Programmatic Assessment | |
| Appendix |
| 10.1 | Certification of Excellence | |
Literacy is the gateway skill to improving student achievement in all subjects.
But writing is often the forgotten part of the literacy equation. Taking Initiative
on Writing: A Guide for Instructional Leaders provides school leaders with both
the what and the how of implementing a comprehensive, schoolwide approach
to improving student writing. School leaders who are serious about improving
student achievement, eliminating the achievement gap, and having all graduates
prepared for postsecondary education and training will want to add this book to
their professional libraries.
– Mel Riddile, Associate Director for High School Services, NASSP
2006 MetLife/NASSP National High School Principal of the Year