Step Up to Writing® is celebrating 25 years of unparalleled writing instruction for learners of all levels and types, from K–12. For more than two decades, Step Up to Writing has supported the individuality of every learner to grow literacy across all content areas by helping students understand each step of the writing process with strategies that develop their ability to create thoughtful, well-written compositions.
Step Up to Writing® is a comprehensive program of multisensory writing strategies that develop students’ ability to create thoughtful, well-written compositions. The solution’s explicit and systematic approach to teaching writing is designed to provide clear strategies, methods, and supports for increased writing success in all content areas. Created for all students, the strategies can be integrated into any curriculum or implemented as a standalone writing solution.
Step Up to Writing instructional strategies help students understand the importance of each step in the writing process. Beginning writers explicitly learn and practice each phase of the process. Common expectations and language for writing across every grade level builds confidence as students grow into more advanced writers and the process becomes fluid and automatic. This writing program provides:
Four grade bands (K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12) targeting writing strategies to age levels as well as subject-area learning in specific grades.
Focus on the specific text types emphasized in state standards: informative/explanatory, opinion/argument, and narrative writing.
Emphasis on using technology for research and to produce and publish work.
Grade-level specific Unit Maps provide a sequence of instructional strategies as they help students improve writing skills.
Realistic strategies for differentiation to ensure instruction will meet individual student needs.
Explicit focus on supporting students in producing organized, clear, and coherent writing.
One size fits all never works. With this in mind, Step Up to Writing provides variation and differentiation based on each student’s needs throughout hundreds of strategies, across all four grade bands. Optional “Craft and Style” callouts within the strategies teach the three major text types while also providing opportunities for additional depth and richness.
We are committed to a long-term partnership with every district that implements our solutions. Districts can choose from a menu of training and support options including in-person or online. Visit our Customer Success page to learn more.
Although reading and writing instruction are usually taught separately, they are both informed by the science of reading and reinforce each other throughout literacy development. Just as teaching students how to read requires explicit and systematic instruction, the same is true of writing instruction. In fact, writing is one of the most effective ways to improve reading proficiency.
While assistive technology can help students with writing problems, it does not remove the importance of teaching explicit handwriting. Handwriting reinforces reading and spelling skills, and is linked to reading and spelling achievement. In this insightful podcast, you will learn how handwriting supports the science of reading and strategies educators can use immediately in the classroom to build handwriting into their daily lessons.
Handwriting is back in the curriculum after a long absence. Educators now understand teaching handwriting explicitly is firmly linked to reading and spelling achievement. Although it never disappeared totally, it was de-emphasized in most districts. But it’s now clear handwriting plays a critical role in literacy and is making a comeback.