Sopris Learning Announces The Step Up To Writing Implementation Guide To Help Teachers Successfully Teach The Three Forms Of Writing Specified In The Common Core State Standards

LONGMONT, Colo., Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sopris Learning, a provider of research-based assessments, supplemental and intervention materials, positive behavior supports, and professional development offerings, is pleased to announce the release of the Step Up to Writing ^® Implementation Guide for grades K–5. This all-new Implementation Guide, by Maureen Auman, provides a scope and sequence for teaching informative/explanatory, narrative, and opinion writing and an assessment plan to monitor students' progress.

With the application of the Common Core State Standards under way, this new Step Up to Writing Implementation Guide provides the "how-to" for teaching writing and meeting the specifications of CCSS to build college- and career-ready students.

" The Step Up to Writing Implementation Guide is a valuable resource for teachers implementing Step Up to Writing strategies," says Stephanie Hensley, assistant professor and field director in the Teacher Education Department at Adams State University, Alamosa, Colorado. "It provides a framework of units and lessons specific to informative/explanatory, opinion, and narrative writing genres that are aligned to the Common Core State Standards."

This all-new Implementation Guide includes:

• Informative/explanatory, narrative, and opinion writing scope and sequence to help teachers easily design a lesson plan that incorporates these types of writing in any subject area
• Adaptable lesson plans following the program scope and sequence for grades K–5, so that teachers can successfully teach the three forms of writing specified in the Common Core State Standards within a school year
• Guidelines for aligning Step Up to Writing strategies with 6+1 Trait® Writing and Writer's Workshop
• An assessment plan, including progress monitoring to ensure that students are given the instruction they need at every grade level and skill level

"The Common Core State Standards describe what the writing should look like, but they do not help teachers understand how to teach the process of writing. Step Up to Writing provides the scaffolded instruction necessary to teach this process," says Deana Hippie, Step Up to Writing trainer in Riverside County, California. "Because teaching writing is so complex, teachers often feel that they don't know where to start their instruction. The Step Up to Writing Implementation Guide provides a clear scope and sequence and effectively breaks down the process into manageable steps, giving teachers a framework for instruction that includes adequate time for teaching and practicing the strategies."

"At Sopris Learning, we are pleased to continue our leadership role in providing research-based writing materials to schools nationwide," says George Logue, president of Sopris Learning. "The importance of students' development of writing strategies and skills continues to grow, and proficiency in this area is essential in order to advance academic achievement. Step Up to Writing provides the foundation necessary for success in the high-stakes testing environment as well as the lifelong ability to communicate clearly and effectively in all settings."

Step Up to Writing provides research-validated, hands-on, multisensory writing strategies and activities that help students proficiently write informational/explanatory, narrative and personal narrative, and opinion pieces. These strategies also foster development of critical thinking, reading comprehension, and speaking and listening skills and help establish writing as a process rather than as an end product.

Step Up to Writing strategies help students actively engage in reading materials for improved comprehension and demonstrate competent study and critical-thinking skills. This comprehensive resource creates a common writing language throughout the grade levels and content areas. With multiple strategies for each phase of the writing process, Step Up to Writing can fill in the gaps in the core curriculum or act as the core writing instruction.

About Sopris Learning Sopris Learning, a member of Cambium Learning ^® Group, is committed to bringing learning to life for students and making professional growth meaningful for educators. We are proud to represent the life's work of world-renowned researchers and education leaders. For 35 years, Sopris Learning has supported teachers and students with a range of proven assessments, academic interventions, literacy and math supplements, positive behavior supports, and professional development. With a firm commitment to translating research into practice, we have helped schools and districts boost student participation, improve test scores, and increase graduation rates. Sopris Learning is a business unit of Cambium Learning ^® Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABCD) based in Dallas, Texas. For more information, please visit www.soprislearning.com .

Media Contact: Shannan OverbeckCambium Learning Group, Inc. 214.932.9476 [e-mail]

Investor Contact: Chris Cleveland214.932.9474 [e-mail]

SOURCE Sopris Learning

Copyright 2011 PR Newswire. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.