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!