Home My courses Writing STAARs course outline Writing STAARs for Grades 4 and 7 WELCOME Eight Lessons with 2 to 6 videos per lesson Notes and Handouts in PDF are available for printing with each Lesson Course videos will take approximately a total of 4 viewing hours In each lesson, under Assignments, complete "Quick Quiz" on basic course content (This task is viewable after videos have been viewed.) In each lesson, under Assignments, you may be asked to submit a reflection assignment, "Reflect and Write" (This task, when required, is viewable after videos have been viewed.) Boxes with checks will automatically track your work as you print documents, view videos, and complete assignment The following are links to documents (PDF) referred to during the course that are posted at Texas Education Agency (www.tea.state.tx.us) click here for STAAR Personal Narrative Writing Rubric Grade 4 click here for STAAR Personal Narrative Writing Rubric Grade 7 click here for STAAR Expository Writing Rubric Grade 4 click here for STAAR Expository Writing Rubric Grade 7 click here for Released Sample Writing Prompts; follow these directions to the link: 1. Scroll down the web page to the table for Grades 3-8 Assessments. 2. Go to the row for Grade 4 and/or the row for Grade 7. 3. Select Writing under Released Test Questions, for booklet containing released prompts. The following documents designed by Alice Nine contain STAAR rubric information in a matrix. Print the grade level ones that are appropriate for you. Grade 4 Personal Narrative Rubric Matrix Document is a matrix of the Grade 4 STAAR personal narrative rubric with side-by-side performance descriptors for easy comparison across score points. Text has been color highlighted for easy comparisons. Grade 7 Personal Narrative Rubric Matrix Document is a matrix of the Grade 4 STAAR personal narrative rubric with side-by-side performance descriptors for easy comparison across score points. Text has been color highlighted for easy comparisons. Grade 4 Expository Rubric Matrix Document is a matrix of the Grade 4 STAAR expository rubric with side-by-side performance descriptors for easy comparison across score points. Text has been color highlighted for easy comparisons. Grade 7 Expository Rubric Matrix Document is a matrix of the Grade 7 STAAR expository rubric with side-by-side performance descriptors for easy comparison across score points. Text has been color highlighted for easy comparisons. Grade 4 Combined Rubrics Matrix Document combines 4th grade personal narrative rubric and expository rubric into a three-page document for side-by-side and line-by-line comparison of performance descriptors. Grade 7 Combined Rubrics Matrix Document combines 7th grade personal narrative rubric and expository rubric intoa three-page document for side-by-side and line-by-line comparison of performance descriptors. Page 1
Under Lesson Materials in each Lesson is a document referred to as Lesson NOTES. It is a PDF of selected slides from the Lecture Videos. Print this document before you begin each Lesson. Combine these documents for your complete course notes for Writing STAARs. In addition, print any other documents listed under Lesson Materials. Cover page for course NOTES Print the cover page and course objectives for your course notes. L0-Video 1: Welcome to "Writing STAARs" L0-Video 2: Navigating the Course Watch this "HELP" video before beginning the Lessons. Lesson 1 INTRODUCTION Print Lesson 1 NOTES under Lesson Materials before viewing Lecture Videos. After viewing the videos, Assignments will be accessible. Please complete Assignments before going to the next Lesson. Lesson 1 NOTES Print NOTES for Lesson 1 Lecture Videos. Videos are developed to be viewed in the order listed. L1-Video 1: Overview of "Writing STAARs" (04m 33s) A synopsis of course content with sample screens from the lessons L1-Video 2: The STAAR Essays (06m 30s) Connect ELAR TEKS and STAAR writing tasks for Grades 4 and 7 L1-Video 3: 2011 STAAR Field Test Trends (05m 12s) Review student writing tendencies reported from field tests administered in Spring 2011 Lesson 2 DECIPHERING STAAR RUBRICS Print Lesson 2 NOTES and other Handouts under Lesson Materials before viewing Lecture During this Lesson, in addition to the documents listed below, you will need copies of the documents that are listed under Course Materials in the Welcome session of this course. Lesson 2 NOTES Print NOTES for Lesson 2 Lecture Videos. Page 2
Structure and Form of the Narrative Essay Print HANDOUT: "The structure/form of the personal narrative essay is held together by..." Structure and Form of the Expository Essay Print HANDOUT: "Structure/form of an expository essay is held together by..." Connecting and Transition Words by Writing Mode Print a chart classifying connecting words and transition words by the writing mode in which they are most often used -- descriptive, narrative, expository. Videos are developed to be viewed in the order listed. Video 4 is customized--one for grade 4 (L2-Video 4 Gr4) and one for grade 7 (L2-Video 4 Gr7). Select the version that is most appropriate for you. Or view both versions. L2-Video 1: The Rubrics in a Matrix (04m 50s) Take a quick look at the components of the STAAR writing rubrics L2-Video 2: Performance Descriptors (04m 48s) Examine the form and general wording of performance descriptors in writing rubrics L2-Video 3: The Language of the Rubrics (23m 18s) Examine in detail the key words in the performance descriptor stems L2-Video 4 Gr4: The EXTENSION in 4th Grade (05m 40s) Identify the extension in the 4th grade personal narrative writing rubric L2-Video 4 Gr7: The EXTENSION in 7th Grade (08m 59s) Identify the extension in the 7th grade personal narrative writing rubric Lesson 3 DECONSTRUCTING STAAR PERSONAL NARRATIVE PROMPTS Print Lesson 3 NOTES under Lesson Materials before viewing Lecture Videos. After viewing the videos, Assignments will be accessible. Please complete Assignments before going to the next Lesson. Lesson 3 NOTES Print NOTES for Lesson 3 Lecture Videos Videos are developed to be viewed in the order listed. Video 2 is customized--one for grade 4 (L3-Video 2 Gr4) and one for grade 7 (L3-Video 2 Gr7). Select the version that is most appropriate for you. Or view both versions. L3-Video 1: STAAR Personal Narrative Prompt Scaffold (04m 09s) A general analysis of the prompt scaffold for the personal narrative essay L3-Video 2 Gr4: Personal Narative Prompt Scaffold for Grade 4 (07m 05s) Detailed analysis of a released sample of the grade 4 personal narrative prompt L3-Video 2 Gr7: Personal Narative Prompt Scaffold for Grade 7 (08m 56s) Detailed analysis of a released sample of the grade 7 personal narrative prompt Page 3
Lesson 4 DEVELOPING THE PERSONAL NARRATIVE ESSAY Print Lesson 4 NOTES and other Handouts under Lesson Materials before viewing Lecture Lesson 4 NOTES Print NOTES for Lesson 4 Lecture Videos Plot Diagram Print an annotated plot diagram to use as Writer's Tool for brainstorming and organizing a personal narrative essay. Flip Book Print a storyline outline for a flip book to use as Writer's Tool for brainstorming and organizing a personal narrative essay. Writing Reservoirs Print "A Person, a Place, a Time" -- a chart to use as a reservoir of writing ideas for narrative writing Print "Two Hands for Writing" -- listing experiences and reflections on hand graphics to serve as a reservoir of writing ideas for narrative writing Descriptive Words Print "Two Hands for Description" -- one hand is for sensory words, the other for adjective describing the physical and the purpose Print a chart of the correct adjective order in a noun phrase Word Choice Print a listing of common, overworked words and synonyms that can be used in place of them. Videos are developed to be viewed in the order listed. L4-Video 1: Structure and Form of the Personal Narrative Essay (21m 01s) Writing strategies that help students plan a personal narrative essay L4-Video 2: Using the Plot Diagram (15m 11s) Using the plot diagram from literature to plan and structure a personal narrative essay L4-Video 3: Using the Flip Book (19m 47s) Using the flip book from foldables to plan and structure a personal narrative essay L4-Video 4: Using the STAAR Blank Planning Pages (05m 20s) How to use the plot diagram or the flip book as a planning tool on two blank pages L4. Quick Quiz When you have finished watching the Lecture Videos, Lesson 4, take this Quick Quiz. Page 4
Lesson 5 DECONSTRUCTING STAAR EXPOSITORY PROMPTS Print Lesson 5 NOTES and other Handouts under Lesson Materials before viewing Lecture Lesson 5 NOTES Print NOTES for Lesson 5 Lecture Videos Expository Prompts for Grade 4 STAAR -like expository prompts for 4th grade. Expository Prompts for Grade 7 STAAR -like expository prompts for 7th grade. Videos are developed to be viewed in the order listed. Video 2 is customized--one for grade 4 (L5- Video 2 Gr4) and one for grade 7 (L5-Video 2 Gr7). Select the version that is most appropriate for you. Or view both versions. L5-Video 1: STAAR Expository Prompt Scaffold (04m 18s) A general analysis of the prompt scaffold for the expository essay L5-Video 2 Gr4: Prompt Scaffold for Grade 4 Expository Essay (06m 50s) Detailed analysis of a released sample of the grade 4 expository prompt L5-Video 2 Gr7: Prompt Scaffold for Grade 7 Expository Essay (07m 37s) Detailed analysis of a released sample of the grade 7 expository prompt Lesson 6 DEVELOPING THE EXPOSITORY ESSAY Print Lesson 6 NOTES and other Handouts under Lesson Materials before viewing Lecture Lesson 6 NOTES for Grade 4 Print NOTES for Lesson 6 Lecture Videos. This document has slides unique in the 4th grade videos. Lesson 6 NOTES for Grade 7 Print NOTES for Lesson 6 Lecture Videos. This document has slides unique in the 7th grade videos. Sample Essays for Grade 4 Print model essays by Alice Nine and TEA released sample essays for 4th grade. Sample Essays for Grade 7 Print model essays by Alice Nine and TEA released essays for 7th grade. Page 5
Print Lesson 6 NOTES under Lesson Materials before viewing the videos. Videos are developed to be viewed in the order listed. L6-Video 2 through L6-Video 4 are customized for grade 4 and for grade 7. Select the version of each of these videos that is most appropriate for you. Or view both versions of each video. L6-Video 1: The Structure and Form of an Expository Essay (08m 22s) The general form of an expository essay--the three parts of an expository essay L6-Video 2 Gr4: The Clear, Central Idea in Grade 4 (13m 10s) Learn how to write an thesis statement for the grade 4 expository essay L6-Video 2 Gr7: The Controlling Idea in Grade 7 (16m 20s) Learn how to write an thesis statement for the grade 7 expository essay L6-Video 3 Gr4: The X-Builder in Grade 4 (12m 48s) A writer's tool for brainstorming and planning the body of an expository essay L6-Video 3 Gr7: The X-Builder in Grade 7 (15m 08s) A writer's tool for brainstorming and planning the body of an expository essay L6-Video 4 Gr4: Drafting the Expository Essay in Grade 4 (15m 19s) Use X-Builder notes to draft an expository essay in grade 4 L6-Video 4 Gr7: Drafting the Expository Essay in Grade 7 (16m 01s) Use X-Builder notes to draft an expository essay in grade 7 L6-Video 5: Recasting for a Conclusion (11m 26s) Write a conclusion that returns to the thesis statement without just restating it L6-Video 6: Sustaining the Focus (10m 03s) Tips on how to sustain the focus of an expository essay Lesson 7 NARRATIVE & EXPOSITORY CONTRASTED In this lesson we will create a poster depicting a contrast of the various aspects of a narrative essay and an expository essay. This poster should be created with students--either as a classroom poster and/or individually in student notebooks. You will need a piece of blank paper, a set of colored pencils, several writing pencils, an eraser, and a black ink pen. L7-Video 1: Two Hands for Writing (09m 54s) Writing draws from two hands: experience and reflection. This is the introduction to the poster "Narrative vs. Expository." L7-Video 2: Purpose, Form, Organization in the Narrative (11m 03s) Depicting the purpose as a storyteller, form as a plot diagram, and organization as a clock L7-Video 3: Purpose, Form, Organization for the Expository (09m 19s) Depicting purpose as a teacher, form as stacked triangles and rectangle, and organization as numerical prioritized sequence L7-Video 4: Ideas and Details in the Narrative (08m 06s) Depicting ideas and details with a telescope and with two hands for vivid details L7-Video 5: Ideas and Details in the Expository (03m 57s) Page 6
Showing the X-Builder as a way to identify supporting details L7-Video 6: More ideas and detail for the narrative (05m 43s) Ba- da- bing, another tool for description and reflection L7-Video 7: Tone in Both Essays (04m 11s) Contrasting the tone of the narrative with the tone of the expository L7-Video 8: "The Point" in Both Essays (06m 47s) What makes the writing meaningful to the reader? Depicting the reflective layer in the narrative and the thesis recast in expository conclusion L7-Video 9: Deriving Meaning from the Poster (07m 08s) A review of the drawings and labels to establish the distinct differences between the narrative essay and the expository essay Lesson 8 REVISION & PROOFING GRAMMAR TIPS Grammar is one aspect of language that affects revision and editing choices. In this lesson we will create a poster depicting the grammar that a student should consider during revision and during editing (proofing). This poster should be created with students--either as a classroom poster and/or individually by students for their notebooks. You will need a piece of blank paper, a set of colored pencils, several writing pencils, an eraser, and a black ink pen. L8-Video 1: Revision (11m 07s) Depicting word choice, kinds of sentences, sentence beginnings and length L8-Video 2: Proof / Edit (08m 36s) Depicting routines for proofing: sentence boundaries, punctuation, spelling End of Course COURSE REFLECTION In this concluding portion of the course, Assignments automatically becomes available after all Assignments in the above Lessons have been completed. The completion of Assignments is tracked automatically and is required for a Certificate requirements Course completion tracking has been activated with this course. As Lesson Videos are viewed and Lesson Materials are viewed/printed a red check will automatically appear in the tracking boxes. When Assignments have been completed and graded, a red check will automatically appear in their boxes. Upon satisfactory completion of these required tasks, a Certificate of Course Completion will be emailed to the email address you provided in your account. Empowering Every Student with English Proficiency Page 7