This free institute will provide teachers, coaches, and administrators an opportunity to examine and analyze sample student work from both the composition and the open response portions of the 2010 ELA MCAS test, with a focus on high-scoring student work. Ways to support students in everyday instruction will be embedded in the analysis of the authentic student work, emphasizing different approaches for students with varying strengths and weaknesses. Participants will also learn how teachers can be involved in the process of developing MCAS tests and how teachers can support all students in their understanding of the different purposes for writing. A comparison will be drawn between the composition and open response portions of the test, highlighting some common misconceptions about each one.

Participants will receive materials from the 2010 ELA MCAS test that can be taken back to the classroom to use with students as well as with colleagues for further professional development. Participants register for one of the following grade-span groups for the duration of the two-day workshop: grades 3-4, grades 5-7, or grades 8-12.

Please note that this workshop is designed to raise student achievement and we especially encourage teachers to apply from high-need districts (http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/cinstitute/09/highneed.html) as well as teachers of English learners and/or students with disabilities, and teachers teaching out of field or on waiver.

*If you find that you cannot attend this institute after registering, you must contact Janet Furey at: jwfurey@gmail.com so that you can be removed from registration, so that others can be accommodated.