Because multi-faceted literacy skills are critical for success in the 21st century, teachers and administrators at Legacy Christian Academy are equipping students with the ability and desire to write with purpose. At Legacy, students in grades Kindergarten through eighth learn to read, write, speak and listen with confidence and skill.
One of Legacy’s stated LEAD goals is for students to be “Accelerated Achievers” – to articulate thoughts clearly through systematic writing. One way they have targeted this learning goal is by adopting the program Step Up to Writing (SUTW). This organized system is used school-wide and is integrated across all grade levels, in enrichment classes and even during math lessons.
SUTW empowers teachers with multi-sensory, flexible, strategy-based programs that are proven to improve overall literacy skills. SUTW connects writing and reading, building a common language of literacy to increase proficiency across subject areas and grade levels. Coupled with extensive modeling on the part of the dedicated Legacy teaching team, SUTW has already improved students’ reading comprehension, literary analysis, vocabulary, writing, critical thinking and note-taking skills.
Here’s how it works: Teachers model correct processes of organizing thought into writing in a systematic way, allowing students to take the abstract art of writing and make it concrete. SUTW utilizes color coding, drawing, outlining and systems for revisions and edits. Students use these same tools from grade to grade and across content areas.
You’ll be impressed by how this system inspires confidence in even the most hesitant of writers. As students learn how to systematize their writing, they feel more equipped as a writer to branch out creatively and explore different genres of writing. Narrative (stories), expository (paragraphs and reports) and opinion/persuasive writing are each specifically targeted at all grade levels.
Attention to these genres aligns Legacy students’ writing to Common Core Standards, and, with SUTW, Legacy equips students to “LEAD” in their understanding and analysis of excellent writing.
Tim Borruel is the co-founder of Legacy Christian Academy. Personalized tours are available throughout the summer and school year. For more information, please call 661-257-7377.