Jill, Your students are going to Rock in writing this year! Excellent post!

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The webcast on “Red and Green Marker” definitely lived up to the promise of being the simplest writing system in the world. Not only is the Red and Green Marker System simple, but it is also effective! Something as simple as using markers left me wondering “Why didn’t I think of that?”

The typical way of teaching students to write is to give the whole class a prompt. When we teach students this way the typical response is a short, sloppy, and unorganized essay that the students rushed to finish. Year after year, our students continue to produce the same type of work. If we, as teachers, want our students to make drastic improvements in writing, then we need to make drastic changes in the way we are teaching them to write.

With Whole Brain Teaching’s Red and Green Marker System, the teacher gives a short lesson on one specific skill using an engaging Five Step Lesson. After the students have practiced the skill orally and demonstrated their understanding with a partner, they will begin using the skill in their writing. But what are they going to write about? That is the drastic change. You don’t give a prompt. Instead, you set the time. Students choose what they want to write about, and you tell them how long they will write.

All too often we assign a prompt, and a number of students finish at the speed of lightning. That is no longer an issue with the Red and Green Marker System. Every student knows the timer will be set, and they will be writing until it buzzes.

The best feature of this system is the instant feedback that the students receive. As the students are working, the teacher roams around the room and checks each student’s paper for evidence of their understanding of a particular skill. If a student is demonstrating an understanding of a skill, he or she will get a green dot next to that example of the skill. If a student needs improvement, they will get a red dot. This challenges each student to think critically about their work to correct their mistakes. With each red and green dot the teacher is able to have a mini writing conference with each student on a regular basis.

The Red and Green Marker System is unique and easy to implement. It can be introduced on the first day of school and will inspire students to write about whatever they desire. The system can also tie into the Super Improver Wall. Because you are marking students’ papers with red and green markers, it is easy to recognize student improvements. I am so excited to use this system with my students and to watch the continuous growth in their writing abilities.

Michelle Johnston
100 CP

Red/Green Marker has changed my life in Two major ways! Do you want to know how? Of course you do! Read on!

The First Way:
Let me just start out by saying that I feel that I have done a poor job of teaching writing in the past! However, it's even worse (gasp) because I thought I was doing a good job...until I watched this webcast! Now, my eyes are opened! To illustrate my point read the exchange that often took place between the 6th grade teachers last year!

-These students can't write!
-Texting is ruining sentence structure and spelling!
-They can't even capitalize correctly!
-They have no idea about punctuation!
-We shouldn't have to teach 6th graders how to write a sentence!

After watching the webcast, I realize that ,in order for them to be successful, they need to learn to be successful in small steps! Yes, they learned these steps in younger grades but you still need to start at the beginning every year! Should they move through the beginning steps at a faster rate in Middle School? Yes, for most students. I think it is important to start at the beginning again every year so that they really understand the basics before they move on! Plus, starting at the beginning gives them more chances to be successful! That is what we want - success on their level!

Now, when I assign the kids a paper about the Science topic of the day, they will not only be reviewing science topics but reinforcing writing skills as well!

The Second Way:
GRADING! Grading student writing is SO PAINFUL! Do you know what is even more painful than grading their writing? Giving it back to them and have them make the SAME MISTAKES over and over! MIGHTY GROAN!

I love that there are only two marks on a page. Mark red for FIX and green for MORE LIKE THIS! Plus this helps the low kids have an attainable goal and the higher kids see that that they can always do better! I love the idea of rewarding them individually with the Super Improvers Wall. ( mine is already set up!)

Best idea to help grading - WAIT FOR IT - teaching them to red/green marker each other's papers! GENIUS!

ARE YOU STILL THINKING THIS WON'T WORK IN YOUR CONTENT CLASSROOM?

If writing is so important, why should they just learn it in their Language Arts Class? I tell the kids that every job they will have requires you to be able to write well! It is extremely important in just applying for a job. Job applicants are often judged on the neatness they used when filling out a before they even make it to the interview!

Plus, students need to learn that the skills they are learning indifferent classes need to be applied. They don't need to keep their skill inside the walls of different classrooms.

How will you implement it in your classroom?
Share your ideas!

Melissa Stoddart
WBT Novice 150
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