Why It Works
Data/Research
Top Score Writing is Backed by Data & Research
Many counties require that schools use research-based programs, and Top Score Writing is just that! This is proven in white papers written by Hanover Research and IESD.
Hanover Research provides custom high-quality research and analytics through a cost-effective model that helps clients make informed decisions, identify and seize opportunities, and heighten their effectiveness.
Throughout this report, Hanover identifies examples of how Top Score Writing curricula apply elements that promote the seven practices identified by the NCEE, as well as other aspects of high-quality instruction.
The table below summarizes Top Score Writing’s alignment with these practices.
Specializes in research to support product development and marketing as well as effective communication with educational decision-makers.
Students in the elementary and middle/junior/high school grades must improve their writing skills - not only to help them meet the requirements of state writing assessments, but more importantly, to prepare them for the future demands of high school, college, career, and life.
Top Score Writing provides teachers with a curriculum utilizing research-supported methods that can help students meet those demands.
Top Score Writing Curricula’s Application of Evidence-Based Practices in Writing Instruction
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE FROM LITERATURE REVIEW
EXAMPLE OF HOW TOP SCORE WRITING APPLIES THIS PRACTICE
Elementary Writing Instruction
Provide students with daily time to write
Teach students to use the writing process for a
variety of purposes
Top Score Writing elementary school curricula teach expository,
informative, opinion, and narrative writing. Lessons for each writing
type scaffold students in developing procedural strategies to draft a
complete text that fulfills the outlined purpose and prompt.
Teach students to become fluent with handwriting, spelling, sentence construction, typing, and word processing
Top Score Writing regularly breaks instruction down to the most basic
building blocks of written composition, in addition to addressing the
broader purposes of writing.
Create an engaged community of writers
Each Top Score Writing lesson sequence models critical aspects of the writing process to teach effective writing strategies and provides students with opportunities to practice in groups. Individual reflection, teacher-student conferences, and peer editing are all embedded in the curriculum.
Secondary Writing Instruction
Explicitly teach appropriate writing strategies using a model-practice-reflect instructional cycle
Each Top Score Writing lesson sequence models critical aspects of the writing process, teaches effective writing strategies, and provides students with opportunities to practice in groups. Individual reflection, teacher-student conferences, and peer editing are all embedded in the curriculum.
Integrate writing and reading to emphasize key writing features
Use assessments of student writing to inform instruction and feedback
Assessments are an explicit part of Top Score Writing curricula. In addition to allowing teachers to monitor students’ daily practice work, each curriculum deploys tests as part of the instructional sequence.
These tests are typically followed by opportunities for students to review and revise their work independently or in concert with peers or their teacher
Data Charts
Discover how other schools have enhanced writing skills with Top Score Writing!
Elementary School Writing Data
GALENA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Marshall County, Mississippi
5th Grade Data
After
Timber Trace ELEMENTARY
STUDENTS SCORING 7 or HIGHER
4th Grade Data
WELLTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Middle School Writing Data
GALENA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
YUMA, ARIZONA
8th Grade Data
After
SLAM! OSCEOLA
OSCEOLA
7th Grade Data
After
CORAL SPRINGS CHARTER SCHOOL
After
"These are the best writing scores we have ever had!"
“I just wanted to thank all of you. We received our writing scores from the state assessments. I am amazed. It's been a tough year. Some teachers arrived in October (school started in late July.) A teacher left and we had to move teachers to different teaching assignments. And yet - we have the best writing results we have ever had at Wellton Elementary School!”
“Lisa Jameson
Superintendent Wellton Elementary School District
Writing is the Fastest & Easiest Way to Increase Test Scores & Overall School Grades!
What Teachers Are Saying
Here’s what they love about Top Score Writing!
As principal of a Title I school, I can say this is the best program we have in our building. It is so simple and easy for teachers to follow. They have everything they need for daily lessons and all of the resources are included in the teacher kits.
My teachers have the tools they need to feel confident in their teaching. Our ELA scores continue to soar because of this program. Highly effective!
My students have used Top Score for years. It is great to see their faces light up when they finally "get it"! I remember one student who struggled with expressing herself but with the structure of the program, she was able to write with confidence.
The program covers it all!
Top Score is the BEST writing program around! My kids love the animated lessons and having everything you need to teach writing in one place is what every teacher needs!
I've had the most success with this program and wouldn't use anything else!
Top Score is the best writing program to use for students who have to take the Florida Standards Assessment. The lessons go step by step to help the children learn the proper format. The script is all there for teachers to use.
The emails with videos and support are super helpful to teachers. I highly recommend using this program, not just for FSA but also to help the kids learn to write a cohesive essay!
My students and I love this program!! I'm a 4th grade teacher and my students are writing great pieces. This program has helped my students understand what an opinion and informative essay is. I am completely grateful and so appreciative of this program because I feel that my students are enjoying writing and I can see how much they have progressed since the beginning of the year.
This is an excellent writing curriculum that will get any and every student to love writing!!!
Easy teacher guides and lessons to follow, engaging student videos, a 5 paragraph essay using IRC, lots of prompts and passages to practice each type of essay, fun games to play to review skills learned and prepare for the state test, and so much more!!
I have been using Top Score since 2016 and have had high success rates. I know I can contribute my writing scores to this curriculum. Top Score breaks down the writing process into manageable steps and it consistently repeats and reviews things they’ve learned in previous lessons. So if a student is struggling the first time around, you can count on it going back over that part again and again. Without a doubt, Top Score prepares students for state testing and helps them tremendously.
In my title one school- with a 4th grade class consisting of 12/19 Esol- ( English as a second language ) Of those 12 ESol students 5 passed with a 7 or 8. And the rest all scored above a 3 going from unscroreable at the beginning of school year That’s a huge success in my books!!
This is my fourth year using the Top Score writing program in my 4th grade classroom. I love the program with the detailed lessons and materials. I have seen an improvement in my FSA writing scores since using the program and that is why I fight to get funds each year for my school to purchase it
I teach at a title 1 school. We've used Top Score for a few years now. Last year my students scored the highest Writing scores we've had. Most of my students scored an 8. My struggling writers even improved greatly in their scores. I'm excited to see how this year's group does. I'm already seeing great improvement (I have two classes of the struggling writers this year.)!
Our writing scores has soared using Top Score!
I love using top score with my ESE students. It breaks it down into manageable pieces and my students are doing much better with writing
I am a new teacher. Top-Score gives me a program of consistency and repetition which my students need and I don’t have to reinvent the wheel to prepare for class daily, because all materials I need are there! Top-Score gives my students the framework needed to become good writers. Although we continue to struggle with adding our own thoughts to quotes, it’s the tiny moments of victory, such as being able to create the 5 paragraph skeleton where all paragraphs are indented and start with a hook, proper transition phrases and a conclusion statement!
Top score writing helps my students organize their writing using evidence from text passages and that is a HUGE win for our students!
I’ve used Top Score as a 2nd grade and now 3rd grade teacher. I love the material, lessons, examples, articles. I’m even using it to teach Writing in Spanish.
I have taught fourth grade writing for over 5 years, and this will be my third year using Top Score Writing, Inc. I was thrilled when my school adopted Top Score as their writing curriculum. Students enjoyed the lessons, and I was impressed with how easily they followed the steps of the writing process. The first year I used Top Score, I had a 100% pass rate! I can’t describe how wonderful it felt to tell my entire class that they all passed the writing test we had been working so hard to prepare for all year. I am excited for more amazing results, and I am looking forward to sharing Top Score Writing with students this year. 4th grade teacher- Crabtree Elementary
Top Score is the most simple and effective program I have ever used! It is not only teacher friendly, but it teaches students writing in a simple way and all of the lessons build upon one another. My students are writing more than they ever had and they are enjoying writing. This is truly a one of a kind program. 4th grade teacher – Timber Trace Elementary
I have used the Top Score Writing program in my schools for over 10 years. As a principal I can tell you this program is comprehensive and effective. It gets results! I used this program in Title I schools as well as “A” rated schools and it works with all students. My teachers love it and the students are learning how to become effective writers. The simplicity of the program for teachers and students is what makes it unique. We love this program! Principal – The Weiss School
The best writing program I have ever used! I have been implementing the Top Score Writing program in various schools for over eight years. My current school is Title I and 94% of my students receive free and reduced lunch. We are seeing results and my teachers love it. This comprehensive program is easy to follow and includes everything the teachers need to teach writing and more! Principal – Pioneer Park Elementary
As principal of a Title I school, I can say this is the best program we have in our building. It is so simple and easy for teachers to follow. They have everything they need for daily lessons and all of the resources are included in the teacher kits. My teachers have the tools they need to feel confident in their teaching. Our ELA scores continue to soar because of this program. Highly effective! Principal – Crosspointe Elementary
I was so impressed with the improvement in my third graders writing using last year's Top Score Writing curriculum that I can't wait to see the changes in the revised program that is on its way to me now!
I teach fourth grade at Stanton Weirsdale Elementary. We used Top Score Writing this past year, and it was fabulous! The program is well written and easy to follow. Students were able to understand and apply the strategies and skills presented throughout the program. I really liked the scaffolding that was used so that students were not overwhelmed at the beginning. We are having our training at SWES tomorrow, and I can't wait to see the updates Lisa has made to the program! Looking forward to another great year using Top Score Writing!
I loved using Top Score last year! I think my students grew by leaps and bounds. Your beginning of the year training was excellent as well! My favorite part has been your email communication. You are very helpful throughout the entire school year, and provide great updates to teachers!
Loved your training! You're like an instant dose of "Let's do this!"
Amazing presentation today! Thank you!