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Kid Writing Program Evaluation PSDC Conference
2006

• Mifflin County School District
• In collaboration with the
• Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11

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Project Inception

• Requested by Mifflin County District Office
  Administration
• Specifically, Mr. Runk and Dr. Czerniakowski
  expressed interest in the development of an IU
  Program Evaluation Model during the summer
  administrative retreat, 2004.

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Program Background

• In late August, Dr. Czerniakowski met with
  Dr.Tracy Hinish from the TIU office to develop
  the timeline for implementation. At that time,
  Highland Park Elementary, because of its size and
  diversity, was identified as the school for the
  study. It was determined that Kid Writing
  should be the topic of discussion.

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Planning Meeting

• On October 20, 2004, an initial planning meeting
  of the core team members was held at Highland
  Park Elementary.
• Goals for the project were determined.
• Questions for exploration were listed.

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Core Team Members

• Dr. John Czerniakowski
• Dr. Joe Maginnis
• Dr. Linda Mohler
• Robert Shinskie
• Deb Coble
• Amber Elsesser
• Sharon Grassmyer
• Dottie Peiffer
• Rita Weber
• Beth White
• Tracy Hinish

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Additional Members during 05-06

• Kristin Fisher, first grade teacher who replaced
  Sharon Grassmyer
• Dr. Ken Albaugh, consultant for TIU 11

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Questions for Exploration

• How has Kid Writing affected older students?

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Questions for Exploration

• What grade
• specific guidelines/
• benchmarks could serve as expectations?

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Questions for Exploration

• How should writing prompts for PSSA preparation
  be incorporated with Kid Writing?

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Questions for Exploration

• What role do literacy coaches play in Kid
  Writing?

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Questions for Exploration

• How should we report progress for Kid Writing?

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Questions for Exploration

• What reading benefits do students gain as a
  result of Kid Writing?

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Questions for Exploration

• How are other districts using Kid Writing?

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Questions for Exploration

• What are reasonable daily time expectations for
  Kid Writing?

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Questions for Exploration

• How has students writing skills and reading
  abilities improved as a result of Kid Writing?

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Data Collected

• Longitudinal PSSA data
• Imagination Station
• DIBELS

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Data Collected

• Teacher perceptions as per team interview on
  March 22, 2005
• Student artifacts/portfolios

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Title I Reading/Literacy Coaches

• In December 2005, Title I Reading/Literacy
  Coaches were invited to participate.
• Cynthia Smith
• Jennifer Knode

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Perceptions Data Summary

• Reading impact
• Many kindergarten children are reading by the end
  of K and most identify words.
• Enjoy writing and reading
• K Guided Reading Level D
• More connectedness between reading, writing,
  speaking, listening

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Reading Impact

• Easier transfers of authors purpose to writing
  (using all caps for loud speaking)
• Confidence with writing
• Clear applications to notes, letters, cards,
  notes to each other
• Smoother grade level transition from kindergarten
  to second grade

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Perceptions Data Summary

• Challenges
• Helpers/parents volunteers are necessary for
  kindergarten classes. It would be helpful in
  other grades as well.
• It is beneficial for the literacy coaches to be
  involved. This helps a lot.
• Children with speech difficulties have trouble
  hearing initial sounds.
• Children who have not had exposure to print or
  writing implements have extreme difficulty.

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Perceptions Data Summary

• Curriculum Challenges
• All grade level curriculum is more rigorous as a
  result of Kid Writing.
• There are more opportunities for extended
  activities at all grade levels due to higher
  level of sophistication.

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Additional Challenges

• Children who move into the district and have had
  no Kid Writing experience have difficulty.
• Getting students to write to a more sophisticated
  level of detail presents challenges.
• First year of implementation presented
  uncertainties for the teachers.

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Perceptions Data Summary

• Second Grade more rigor in spelling.
• Maintenance issues for first grade are already
  covered.

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Perceptions Data Summary

• Grading Issues
• Portfolios
• Rubrics
• Developmental Checklists

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General Classroom Observations

• Helpers beneficial in all grade levels
• Literacy coaches beneficial in all grades
• Complete student engagement
• One to one teacher/student contact
• Peer tutors
• Routines established
• Learning centers/stations and other activities
  are required for classroom management issues once
  students finish assignments

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Classroom Observations

• Student enthusiasm
• Text rich environment
• Positive interactions
• Vocabulary development
• Peer models
• Use of resources for writing
• Problem solving What do you do when you get to
  a word you dont know how to spell?

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Classroom Observations

• Handwriting integrated
• Co-teaching with Title I Reading/Literacy Coaches
• Get to every child, every day
• Portfolios allow to see growth
• Better parent communication
• Applications of decoding skills
• Individuality

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Portfolio Observations

• Teacher/adult editing
• Interest surveys completed with parents
• Word lists
• Student writing
• Evidence of the use of conventions as students
  progressed through the grade levels
• Expanded vocabulary

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Portfolio Observations

• Combination of fiction and non-fiction writings
• Evidence of mapping and Venn Diagrams

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2005-06 School Year

• Developed guidelines and benchmarks for Kid
  Writing at Kindergarten, first, and second grade
• Benchmarks for beginning, middle, and end of
  school year by grade level. Includes skills and
  expectations for average achievement.
• Guidelines include classroom management tips and
  student writing samples for K, 1st, and 2nd
  grades
• Comparison of third grade PSSA data with control
  group and experimental group

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2005-06 School Year continued

• Networking of TIU member districts who are using
  Kid Writing
• Continued Professional Development
• District visits
• Writers workshop

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PSSA Reading Data Collection Tool
PSSA Performance - Reading
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PSSA Reading Data Collection Tool
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PSSA Reading Data Collection Tool
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PSSA MathData Collection Tool
PSSA Performance - Math
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PSSA MathData Collection Tool
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PSSA Math Data Collection Tool
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Questions?

• Comments

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Contact Information

• Dr. John Czneriakowski, Assistant Superintendent,
  Mifflin County SD
• jjc31_at_mcsdk12.org
• Dr. Tracy Hinish, Assistant Executive Director,
  Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11
• thinish_at_tiu11.org
• Dr. Joe Maginnis, Principal,Highland Park
  Elementary, Mifflin County SD
• jpm45_at_mcsdk12.org