The document outlines nine top instructional strategies to increase student achievement, including essential questions, previews, summarizing, non-verbal representations, active engagement, extending thinking skills, differentiated instruction, vocabulary in context, and student writing. It then focuses on student writing, noting that writing should be integrated across all content areas in both fiction and non-fiction. Effectively using student writing includes focusing on important learning, creating detailed prompts, avoiding yes/no responses, allowing collaborative and peer work, and using writing as a springboard for other projects.

1. Palmyra Area School District
TOP NINE INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES TO
INCREASE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
STUDENT WRITING

2. Top Nine Strategies
1. Essential Questions/Questioning
2. Previewing/Advance Organizers/Activating
3. Summarizing
4. Non-Verbal Representations
5. Active Student Engagement/Collaborative Pairs
6. Extending Thinking Skills
7. Differentiated Instruction
8. Vocabulary in Context
9. Student Writing

3. Strategy: Student Writing
Student writing is integrated in all content areas.
Students write in vivid detail and focus is on both
fiction and non-fiction.

4. Why is this Strategy Critical to
Student Achievement?
 Focuses the lesson for teacher and students
 Increases and improves student’s cognitive
ability
 Extends thinking skills
 Allow for differentiation
 Fosters natural curiosity

5. How do We Effectively Use Student Writing
 Focus on important learning in the lesson
or extend topics after the lesson
 Create a writing prompt that supports the
level of desired learning
 Avoid yes/no responses and expect clear,
vivid detail
 Students can collaboratively write or peer
edit work
 Writing can become a springboard for
other Web 2.o projects

6. Monthly Goal
•Review your use of Student Writing
-Do your writing prompts/methods challenge all
students?
-Do you foster collaborative writing?