Vermont Writing Collaborative Inc.

“Expenses advertising 19 website design 922 citrix go to meeting 702 class supplies 1,215 sales taxes paid 1 lake morey class space 6,535 course materials - books 3,734 consulting 40,415 reimbursements 2,108 meeting meals 234 tuition 5,940 total 61,825”

“The vermont writing collaborative was founded in 2007 by five vermont public school teachers. At that time, the five had been working, individually and collectively and at all grade levels, with an approach to writing instruction we were developing. We call this approach writing for understanding, and it is premised on the idea that writing is all about meaning. If students are to write effectively, it is clear that 1) they need to have solid understanding of the ideas about which they are writing, 2) they need to have a clear structure to build that understanding so that orthers can follow their thinking. In writing for understanding, teachers "plan backward", with an outcome clearly in mind so that they are able to build in successful opportunities to learn for students - and then to show that understanding in effective writing.”

“Vermont writing collaborative non-profit narrative 2017 1) we did not hold a summer institute in 2017. Rather, we used that last week in june to begin the creation of informative writing benchmarks to be used by teachers in vermont and nationally to be able to determine what proficient text-based writing looks like. These materials were completed in time to be rolled out in a two-day workshop in november. This was attended by about 60 educators, most from vermont and new hampshire and the rest from out of state (massachusetts, florida, washington dc, and denver). 2) we worked with five different organizations: achievement network, the new teacher project, student achievement partners, and unbounded to provide professional development both virtually and on site (new york, florida). 3) we presented a daylong session for vermont teachers in march about argument writing and assessing student writing in this writing type. 4) we worked with the stamford connecticut schools to provide professional development around writing. 5) we presented a single-day workshop in march for vermont and new hampshire teachers on identifying proficiency in student writing. 6) we have continued to make materials available to people free of charge from our website, including scoring checklists and the new benchmarks. 7) our newsletter now reaches over 2,000 people.”