The National Study of Writing Instruction - University at Albany

Teacher Interview Schedule: First Interview
Value, Emphasis & Influence
What do you see as the broad goals, benefits, or uses of writing in all academic areas?
4. How would you describe the importance of writing to students’ success in school and in their
future lives?
5. How much emphasis does your school or district give to student writing? How is this emphasis
demonstrated? How do you think this emphasis influences classroom instruction in general?
6. What do you see as the most important aspects of student writing in your subject area and
grade level?
7. How much emphasis do you personally put on student writing in your classroom? How do you
show this emphasis?
8. What do you see as the main influences on student writing in your school? What are the main
influences on how you use writing in your classroom?
9. How do you use student writing to help you attain your course goals?
Initiatives, Curriculum & Collaboration
How does your school support student writing?
7. What school-wide or department-wide writing initiatives have been undertaken recently? How
have such
programs/policies/procedures been implemented? How well do you think they have they have
succeeded? Why?
8. What curricular guidelines and materials for writing does your school or district provide? How
are these chosen
or developed?
9. What opportunities have you had to learn more about writing instruction through
conferences, workshops, courses, or other contacts? When? How and to what extent
have you used ideas from these sources in your classroom?
10. How and to what extent do department or team members collaborate to talk about
student writing?
Types of Writing
What kinds of student writing are important in your subject area?
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