Vermont Writing Collaborative Inc.

“Expenses website design 1,226 class supplies 463 sales taxes paid 50 lake morey class space 6,794 course materials - books 4,300 consulting 55,170 reimbursements 156 total 68,159”

“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 2018 1) once again, we did not hold a summer institute in 2018. Rather, we again used that last week in june to add to the creation of writing benchmarks to be used by teachers in vermont and nationally to be able to determine what proficient text-based writing looks like. This time our work concentrated on argument and narrative benchmarks. These materials were completed in time to be rolled out in a two-day workshop in november. This was attended by about 50 educators, most from vermont and new hampshire and the rest from out of state (massachusetts, florida and washington dc). 2) we worked with student achievement partners to provide professional development at a two-day conference in denver. 3) we presented a two-day session for vermont teachers in march to repeat the november workshop for the informative benchmarks. This was attended by about 35 people. 4) we worked with the stamford connecticut schools to provide professional development around writing. 5) we worked with the publishers of read 180, a program for struggling students in reading and writing grades 5-12. 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.”