Grades 3-10:
Full Curriculum Training: This 3- to 3.5-hour training is a comprehensive review of all writing genres, every section of the Top Score Writing curriculum, the FSA test/rubric, and numerous instructional writing strategies. This training provides a great foundation for teaching writing and is appropriate for teachers new to Top Score or teaching writing in general.
Raising the Bar on Writing Instruction: This 3- to 3.5-hour training will provide a brief overview of the FSA rubric, the writing process, essay structure, and organization. Primarily, we will focus on diving deep into areas where students typically struggle and provide brand new strategies, activities, and tools. These new materials are not included in the curriculum. So, for veteran Top Score teachers, this is a great way to take instruction to the next level. Also included is a direct process for individualizing instruction and numerous new writing progress tracking tools, informal assessments, checklists, anecdotal notes, and more!
Differentiating Writing in the Classroom: This 1.5-hour presentation is an in-depth discussion on how to increase every student’s writing ability by monitoring individual performance and organizing and implementing skill groups. Teachers will learn explicit strategies for fostering a growth mindset in students through a variety of self-assessment tools and daily reflection. A collection of progress monitoring, tracking, and informal assessment tools will be provided for teachers to take back to the classroom and easily implement effective differentiated instruction.
Mini PD Series: This is a collection of five mini-PDs that are each a half-hour long. Each PD focuses on a different aspect of essay writing and provides new strategies and materials (that are not included in our curriculum) to remediate students’ biggest needs. These PDs can be done individually on different days, during planning periods, etc. or all at once in 1½ hours.
Mid-Year Meeting: This 1.5-hour training is individualized for each school and is an excellent addition to Top Score Writing’s scoring of student essays. The consultant will present an in-depth review of students’ performance and specifically identify areas of strength and areas for improvement. Teachers and Top Score consultants will work together to set a focus plan for the remainder of the year.
Modeling and Working with Students: During this consultation, Top Score trainers will model instructional strategies in the classroom and/or work with small groups of students. There will be a short overview and debrief provided for teachers. If requested by the school, the consultant could also observe classroom teachers instructing and provide constructive feedback.
Scoring Through Sample Papers: This 1.5-hour
training provides teachers with the knowledge
to score student essays accurately and efficiently.
Grades 2-3:
Building a Solid Foundation for Writing: This 2-hour training focuses on teaching writing in the primary grades. We will focus on teaching younger students how to navigate the writing process and construct well-structured and organized essays. Specific strategies, activities, and tools for each writing genre are provided. Teachers will also learn explicit strategies for introducing text-based writing and referencing to our youngest writers.
Mid-Year Meeting: This 1.5-hour training is individualized for each school and is an excellent addition to Top Score Writing’s scoring of student essays. The consultant will present an in-depth review of students’ performance and specifically identify areas of strength and areas for improvement.
Teachers and Top Score consultants will work together to set a focus plan for the remainder of the year.
Modeling and Working with Students: During this consultation, Top Score trainers will model instructional strategies in the classroom and/or work with small groups of students. There will be a short overview and debrief provided for teachers.
If requested by the school, the consultant could also observe classroom teachers instructing and provide constructive feedback.
