Digital PD: Writing STAAR™ Essays – Gr.4

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Begin at your convenience.
DIGITAL (online) PD.
Course is available to fit your schedule.
Access 24/7 at Alice Nine Professional Development Center.

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Course Outline

Module 1. Decipher the Rubrics
We will analyze the three writing traits and the student performance descriptors in the STAAR™ writing rubrics.
We will demystify the language of the rubrics in order to simplify and clarify how student writing will be assessed.

Module 2. Deconstruct the Prompt
We will closely examine each component of the expository prompt scaffold for the STAAR™ writing test in grade 4.
We will identify how students should use each component to support writing the essay for STAAR™.

Module 3. Develop the Essay
We will examine the structure and form of the expository essay and construct a graphic that represents each component.
We will develop an essay with a working thesis and the X-Builder

Module 4.  From Prompt to Essay
We will explore a step-by-step how-to with strategies that help struggling writers
1) Getting inside the prompt and avoiding distractions
2) Responding to the prompt with a clear central idea (thesis)
3) Planning the essay body with supporting ideas and developing details
4) Planning the conclusion based on the central idea and essay body

Module 5.  Modeling From Prompt to Essay
We will experience a step-by-step model with released STAAR™ 2015 prompt.
1) Getting inside the prompt
2) Responding to the prompt
3) Planning the essay
4) Drafting the essay
5) Revising the essay
6) Crafting the thesis
7) Writing a draft to submit

Resources.
Links to resources from TEA
STAAR™-like prompts by Alice Nine
Various versions of STAAR™ rubric compiled by Alice Nine
… and more

Alignment with RLA TEKS

Strand 6 — The student uses the writing process recursively to compose an expository essay in accordance with the demands and constraints of the STAAR™ Writing test. The student uses appropriate conventions. The student’s work is legible. The student uses genre characteristics and craft to compose an expository essays that is meaningful and in accordance with the demands and constraints of the STAAR™ Writing test.

It’s easy to enroll
1) Follow directions on Registration Form. Please note: Course may be purchased with credit card at our Online Store
2) Our PD facilitator will complete your enrollment and email a confirmation to you.
View / print: Brochure / Registration Form

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General course information.

Materials. Notes and Handouts linked in this course
Access. Self-paced with 24/7 access. You can return to any part of the training as often as you choose. Course closes on April 15, 2021
Assignments/Progress Reports conclude each Module. These become available once you have viewed videos and opened documents in the module. They must be completed to have access to the Certificate of Completion.
Certificate.  Check marks in tick boxes (right side of course screens) are a record of your work completion. Upon completion of all course work, a Certificate of Completion (6 clock hours) will be accessible. You must print and then add your name and date to the document. Keep in your professional files. N.I.N.E. Enterprises does not keep a file of these certificates.