Constructed Responses for Milestones and other state tests

This year writing with third graders has been a huge challenge for me. The kids are on a variety of different levels after three years of writing instruction from teachers who had a variety of teaching methods. 
We finished our information writing unit and then started to work on some constructed responses like they will see on the state test. It was very challenging for them. 

GA's Milestone test rubrics

I love using Lucy Calkins writing workshop lessons, but I found that they do not prepare kids to write a constructed response. I had to create a bunch of lesson plans to help them and to really demonstrate how to achieve the goals on the 7 point rubric for our state. 

Constructed Responses lesson plans for writing workshop on Teachers Pay Teachers 

Help students learn how to write a constructed response with this resource for grades 3-5

Even if your state's rubric is slightly different, these lesson plans teach students to respond to the question, cite the text, provide evidence for their answer, and how to elaborate or explain the evidence. 

Writing Workshop Third Grade Lucy Calkins Crafting True Stories and The Art of Information Writing

Writing Workshop Third Grade Lucy Calkins Crafting True Stories and The Art of Information Writing

I made these lesson plans to help me understand and teach the 3rd grade Writing Workshop units. It was really helpful since it's my first year teaching 3rd grade.

Unit 1

included:

• Editable writing workshop template, editable lesson outlines for Unit 1 Bends 1-4 based on Crafting True Stories Lucy Calkins and Marjorie Martinelli, © 2013 with standards attached

• A PDF version of Unit 1

• PowerPoint slides to match the lessons

+ 5 Extra grammar lessons for writing workshop created by Miss Little Sparks in the same format as the writing workshop plans.

+ 3 technology lessons created by Miss Little Sparks in the same format as the writing workshop plans.

+ Extra sections on the lesson plan template to help you document for TKES!

Unit 2

Included:

· Editable writing workshop template, editable lesson outlines for Unit 2 Bends 1-4 based on The Art of Information Writing Lucy Calkins and M. Colleen Cruz, © 2013 with standards attached.

· A PDF version of Unit 1 lessons

· PowerPoint slides to match the lessons

· 17 EXTRA assessment prep. lessons for end-of-year tests to help students write constructed responses to informational texts.

· Extra ideas, ways to integrate technology and resources to help you with this unit!

Then I also made this separate since not everyone needs the Lucy Calkins units but they need to teach constructed responses or maybe they don't teach unit two but need help teaching constructed responses lessons.

Constructed Responses

British Colonial America Third Grade

British Colonial America Third Grade

Now that this unit is taught in Third Grade I had fun making this unit with three projects. This bundle can be used in any grade!

British Colonial America Third Grade

After studying the three regions where colonists settled in America they will play a fun game where they will practice using higher order thinking and evidence-based responses without knowing!


After researching key reasons why the colonies were founded, students will play a game where they will view properties in Colonial America and "Love it" or "List it". They will find the perfect new home for their colonist by comparing and contrasting colonial life in the 3 regions! Students will use their close reading skills to provide evidence for their answers! ELA and SS all covered in one activity!

Fables Project Based Learning

Amazing PBLs with fables

This collection of problem-based learning (PBL) resources works great with your reading unit on fables. The students will gain thinking strategies and content knowledge while solving open-ended problems. These lessons also work with your balanced literacy model, include higher order thinking skills and increases the rigor in your lesson plans. 
Each PBL includes instructions that you can modify to meet the needs of your students, a worksheet, and extension ideas. After using these lessons your students will be able to retell the fables, ask and answer questions about them, and have a deeper understanding of the morals due to the PBL activities. 


ALSO IT'S FUN!!!! 

Plans and worksheets included for:
The Ant and the Grasshopper
The Lion and the Mouse
Belling the Cat
The Crow and the Pitcher

We also made amazing connections to characters traits, the 7 Mindsets and STEM during these activities. 

Lucy Calkins Writing Workshop and GA Write Score Milestones

According to the GADOE website, " Georgia law (O.C.G.A., Section 20-2-281) requires that writing assessments be administered to students in grades three, five, eight, and eleven." 

How does Lucy Calkins writing workshop prepare kids to take Georgia Milestones and Write Score? 

In my opinion starting with writing workshop in K and 1 creates writers that LOVE writing. 
Some writing in action: http://bendetti-allen-firstgrade.blogspot.com/


The strategies that are taught are important for them to try out, experiment with and share with others in a positive environment. 

In 2nd and 3rd grade you can spend more time on certain aspects like strong openings and closings and/or formatting rules that are needed for standardized tests. 

These lesson plans help me teach writing workshop: 
Lucy Calkins First grade units
Unit 2 First grade
Unit 3 First grade
Unit 4 first grade

Writing Workshop Lucy Calkins First Grade Unit 4 Scenes to Series

These editable lesson plans save so much time and let me focus on using data to inform my instruction. The extra lessons are fun and they really compliment and stretch out the ideas in this unit.  Find this product

Lucy Calkin First Grade Unit 2 Nonfiction Chapter Books

This is another great unit and I've made some editable lesson plans on TpT.

Unit 2 Lesson Plans on TpT         CLICK TO SEE what I've been working on.

Included right now for the 50% off price:Editable writing workshop template, editable lesson outlines for Grade1 Unit 2 Bend 1 based on the book Nonfiction Chapter Books, editable conferencing Avery labels,and Active Notebook for Bend 1 for ActiveInspire.(Project-able PDF pages also included if you don't have ActiveInspire). 

To be updated and included in 50% off price if you buy early- 
Bend 2-3, extra grammar lessons for writing workshop (verbs), , and rubrics for collecting data. Price will increase upon completion. Don't wait! =) 


This is a collection of editable first grade lesson plan starters for quick reference or for your lesson plan binder based on Lucy Calkins Common Core Writing Workshop 2013. This resource from LC is amazing and should be read before using these lesson plans so you can edit them for your team/class/school. These plans do not replace the resource and you will miss all of the professional development if you rely on these lesson plans. Most of it will not make sense unless you read the session first from the LC resource. I love teaching writing and have spent many years trying to help other teachers love it too with my lesson plans. LC’s resource says all the things I’d want other teachers to know. These plans just save you some time when it comes to having to turn in plans and get you started so you can include your own changes to reflect the data in your classroom and to write your own minilessons! The most important page in here is the editable template that you can fill in after you read each session and when you want to make your own teaching points. 


Also check out Grade 1 Unit 1
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Workshop-Lucy-Calkins-First-Grade-Unit-1-Lesson-Plans-SMALL-MOMENTS-1980565