Best Practices in the Teaching of Writing - Brevard Public Schools

Dear K-6 Teacher,
Developing the Craft, 2 nd Edition has been carefully edited and serves as a
companion guide to Piece by Piece, the county writing plan. Each section of
the Piece by Piece “Year at a Glance” has a corresponding section in the
Developing the Craft 2 nd Edition. For example, in the “Six Traits” section of
Piece by Piece, the teacher could turn to Developing the Craft, 2 nd Edition
for numerous lessons in each trait. In fact, every section in the Piece by
Piece is explained and illuminated with definitions, resources, lessons, and
references in Developing the Craft, 2 nd Edition.
Using these two district-developed manuals in tandem will support your
writing instruction. For the new teacher these documents will, no doubt,
clarify and lead instruction, and for the veteran teacher these manuals will be
another user-friendly resource. In fact, each lesson has cited Sunshine State
Standards that correspond to the writing skill being taught. Since the lessons
are for kindergarten through grade six, the standards are written minus the
grade level, which is indicated with a parenthesis. For example, the standard
for supporting details for a third grader would read, LA. 3.3.3.3. For a fourth
grader, it would read, LA. 4.3.3.3. To avoid an overuse of space, the
standards recorded for each lesson in this book read, LA (grade level) 3.3.3.
Writing instruction is built on a foundation, piece by piece. Locking these
parts together in a cohesive, comprehensive, and consistent plan for our
county will result in a strong writing program. Delve into these manuals and
allow them to aid your writing instruction, and your “puzzle pieces” will
come together strengthened.
i