How I Used Lucy Calkins’ Units of Study Writing Program to Support my First Grade Students’ Writing Development: A Self Study

Abstract

In this self study, I examine how I used Lucy Calkins Units of Study Writing Program (2006) to support my first grade students’ writing development. In order to reflect on my own teaching using the first two books in Calkins’ series, Launching the Writer’s Workshop and Small Moments-Personal Narrative Writing, I collected different types of qualitative data: audio tapes, research journals, student responses and examples, and reflections. The findings indicate that while I used Calkins’ Units of Study Writing Program, I supported my students’ literacy development by following the framework she provides, my using language and differentiating my writing instruction. The findings also indicate that my students were engaged, were excited about the writing process, developed and improved their listening skills, had opportunities to engage in developmentally appropriate writing practice and use resources in the classroom differently than they would otherwise.