This writing spiral program was custom designed by the authors to be implemented throughout all grade levels. It is designed to teach expository and narrative writing. It is designed to teach students to plan before they write. A webbing system is in place throughout all grade levels in order to teach expository writing or any type of writing. The students have a uniform webbing system which is color coded that does not change as they advance to a new grade level. For narrative writing, a BMMME graphic organizer is used. BMMME stands for beginning, middle, middle, middle, and ending. Teaching the same graphic organizers throughout all grade levels has given students renewed confidence in their writing ability because of this predictable planning style. Although this program is designed to help students write expository and narrative papers, other forms of writing, such as persuasive writing will be taught. In 6th grade, each month there is a new method and skill taught for future use.
Individual Teacher Education Professional Days
Our teachers take the opportunities that are offered by VCS to become acquainted with many educational programs.
Some examples would be: In order to be equipped to take the class to the Discovery Museum Space Center, the teacher took a six hour class to prepare students for the “Voyage to Mars” space camp.
ITEA presented a ten hour class that involved working with teachers and scientists from NASA on growing vegetables in space. During this workshop each teacher built a small self-contained greenhouse.
