This document discusses writing across the curriculum (WAC) and the Common Core standards. It notes that 45 states have adopted the Common Core standards for English Language Arts and Math. The ELA standards include writing skills, speaking/listening skills, and literacy standards for science, social studies, history and technical subjects. The document outlines some benefits and fears of incorporating more writing across subjects, and provides strategies teachers can use like journals, writing for real audiences, modeling writing, and focusing on feedback rather than conventions.

1. Writing Across the
Curriculum
DeKalb High/Middle School

2. Do you use writing in
your classroom?

3. Common Core Standards
• Standards developed for K-12 in Math
and English Language Arts (ELA)
• Forty-five states have adopted these
standards
• Missouri has adopted; plan to implement
2014-2015 school year
(National Governors Assoc. for Best Practices & Council
of Chief State School Officers, 2010)

4. Common Core Standards
• ELA standards include
– Literature & informational text
– Foundational skills
– Writing skills
– Speaking & Listening Skills
– Language Skills
(National Governors Assoc. for Best Practices & Council
of Chief State School Officers, 2010)

5. Common Core Standards
• ELA standards also include literacy in
– Science
– Social Studies
– History
– Technical Subjects
(National Governors Assoc. for Best Practices & Council
of Chief State School Officers, 2010)

6. How can we
prepare our students
for the Common
Core?

7. Writing Across the
Curriculum

8. What is WAC?
• Learning to Write
• Writing to Learn
In ALL disciplines
(McLeod, 1987; McLeod & Maimon, 2000)

9. Benefits of WAC
• Provides students with writing
practice
• Great learning tool for students
• Works on students’ critical thinking
skills
• Shows students’ learning, thought-
processes, and misunderstandings
(McLeod, 1987; McLeod & Maimon, 2000)

10. Fears vs. Solutions
Fears Solutions
• Lack of expertise • Don't focus on grammar
• Write along with students
• Take time away from • Collaborate with
own content to teach teachers
writing • Stagger big writing
assignments
• More grading • Small writing assignments
just as beneficial as big
• Evaluation processes ones
• Evaluate only one-two
elements of writing
(Borchers, 2001; Fincke, 1982; Graham,
Gillespie, & McKeown, 2012; Graves, • Don’t grade everything!
1995; Gribbin, 1991; Kinloch, 2009)

11. What are some ways
you can incorporate
more writing into
your classroom?

12. Some Strategies
• Journals/Diaries/Logs
• Write for a Real Audience
• Write Daily
• Freewriting/Focused Freewriting
• (See Handout for More)
(Jacobs, 2002; Moss 1991)

13. Teachers Should…
• Model Writing
• Provide Expectations Clearly
• Provide Feedback/Conference
• Focus Less on Conventions
(Borchers, 2001; Fincke, 1982; Graham, Gillespie, &
McKeown, 2012; Graves, 1995; Gribbin, 1991; Kinloch,
2009; Moss, 1991)

14. Bibliography
Borchers, D. L. (2001). Writing across the curriculum: A simple approach to
correcting. New England Reading Association Journal, 37(2), 11-13.
Fincke, G. (1982). Writing across the curriculum in high school. The Clearing
House, 56(2), 71-73.
Graham, S., Gillespie, A., & McKeown, D. (2012). Writing: importance,
development, and instruction. Reading and Writing, 26(1), 1-15.
Graves, D. H. (1995). Be a better writing teacher. Education Digest, 60(9), 57-
60.
Gribbin, W. G. (1991). Writing across the curriculum: Assignments and
evaluations. The Clearning House, 64(6), 365-368.
Jacobs, V. A. (2002). Reading, writing, and understanding. Educational
Leadership, 60(3), 58-61.

15. Bibliography
Kinloch, V. (2009). Innovative writing instruction. The English Journal, 98(5),
103-107.
Maimon, S. M. (2000). Clearing the air: WAC myths and realities. College
English, 62(5), 573-583.
McLeod, S. (1987). Defining writing across the curriculum. WPA: Writing
Program Administration, 11(1-2), 19-24.
Moss, B. (1991). Promoting reading and writing in the middle-grade content-
area classroom. The Clearing House, 65(1), 11-13.
National Governors Association for Best Practices, C. o. (2010). Common core
standards. Washington, D.C.: National Governors Association Center
for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers. Retrieved
from Common core state standards initiative.