Writing Instruction and the Common Core State Standards: Integrating Technology into Writing Interventions

Volume 13 Issue 3 December - February 2018

Case Study

Writing Instruction and the Common Core State Standards: Integrating Technology into Writing Interventions

Michael Dunn*

Associate Professor, Special Education and Literacy, Washington State University, Vancouver, USA.

Dunn, M. (2018). Writing Instruction and the Common Core State Standards: Integrating Technology into Writing Interventions. i-manager’s Journal on School Educational Technology, 13(3), 42-48. https://doi.org/10.26634/jsch.13.3.13955

Abstract

Many children struggle with writing. As a case study, Jane is a fourth-grade student with a learning disability with writing goals and objectives in her Individual Education Plan. Teachers can use students' recent writing samples and questionnaire responses (e.g., what do you find challenging about writing?) as a guide to find tools and strategies that can promote improved skills over time. Mnemonic strategy instruction, as part of step-by-step mini lessons, offers students a means to learn and apply techniques that promote their ability to self-regulate a task, such as writing. In Jane's case, pairing the story mnemonic with technology tools (e.g., an iPad) for planning and text generation within her lessons and activities provided for a significant increase in her texts' content and quality. This article offers an illustrative description of how a student can learn a mnemonic such as story as well a list of app choices to help enrich students' writing lessons with mobile devices.