Appendix 4: Overview of Step Up to Writing
Step Up to Writing is a multilayered research-based program developed by Maureen Auman and published by Sopris West Educational Services. The program is designed to be used from kindergarten, with each grade level becoming thoroughly proficient in more complex and lengthy skills. Along with mastering writing in different genres, students also improve in the following areas: reading comprehension and vocabulary; listening and speaking; note-taking; analyzing and summarizing; and test preparation. Students learn the three most important stages in the writing process by associating them with color coding: green, yellow, blue, and red. Green is used at the beginning and the end of a paragraph. It indicates a topic sentence or a concluding sentence. Yellow comes next and stands for a reason, a detail, or a fact that supports the topic. Blue transition words aid in these supporting statements. Red follows yellow and denotes an example or explanation that substantiates the reason or fact.
This program is meant to support the writer's workshop model of prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading, and publishing. The program includes supporting posters and graphic organizers, reference booklets for students, and explicit instructions for a variety of approaches to teaching. It has been valuable in our school to promote writing across the content areas. For more information, visit Maureen Auman's website at
http://www.readwriteconnect.com
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