Middle School Writing Curriculum Combines Mastery Learning and Creative Writing to Improve Middle School Achievement in Sentence Structure, Fluency, Voice and Grammar.

<BODY> <P><FONT SIZE=5 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus>Transform the Quality of Middle School Writing</FONT></U></P> <P><font face=arial><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR=#000000>"Bruce, The proof of any teacher's effectiveness is in the performance of his students, and you and I both know that the work your kids have produced is superb. Their observation skills, their ability to use language to vividly describe their observations, and their rapidly increasing understanding of syntax and sentence structure are among the most impressive I've ever seen as an English teacher, principal, or superintendent in any school at any grade level or program.</P> <P><FONT SIZE=2>The fact that you have produced this level of accomplishment with such young kids is incredible."</FONT></P> <P><font face=arial><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR=#000000>--Mike Riley visits Bellevue International School 7th grade writing class*</FONT></STRONG></B></P> </TD></TR> <TBODY> </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV ALIGN="left"><TABLE WIDTH="70%" BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0><TBODY> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD> <P>   </P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=5 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus>To all middle school teachers of writing:</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>There are no shortcuts to raising student writing achievement within your middle school writing classrooms.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>How do we raise middle school student writing achievement levels? How do we help middle school students break through the barriers imposed by their limited entry-level language skills?</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>In the middle school, daily oral language will not do it. Middle school journal writing will not do it. Exploring writing genres, or teaching the five part essay will not do it. Neither will writing across the middle school curriculum fulfill this expectation.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>Assigning more writing is not the same as teaching middle school students to become better writers. The study of rubrics and/or group-editing tasks do not teach middle school students <I>how to write</I> more varied and more precise sentences.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>What middle school students need is a systematic curriculum that develops sentence fluency and descriptive power at the same time that it creates enthusiasm for word choice and clarity of expression. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>Middle school students need a sequence of writing activities that meets them where they are...and then takes them to <U>where they are not</U>: toward much higher language choice and middle school sentence construction skill levels. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>Breakthroughs in middle school writing achievement require middle school teachers to <U>transform</U> middle school student awareness of language possibilities, and to equip their middle school students with the tools they need to move beyond self-limiting, entry-level language patterns. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>These middle school writing breakthroughs can best be achieved by a middle school writing program that is lively, easy to teach, and that combines systematic, cumulative skill development with short, high interest middle school writing assignments that are designed for frequent closure and quick turnaround. A program where middle school students put in the effort, master a technique, and then can quickly see their sentence construction skills grow. Once these skills are mastered, middle school students can effectively apply them to the composition and essay writing assignments that are part of the middle school's (and later the high school's) curricular program.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>The Topschools middle school writing program is the product of over thirty years of teaching reading, writing and thinking at the secondary level, grades 7-12. My constant goal: unlocking middle school student resistance to thinking about, and to valuing written expression. Standardized test score results for my student writers are available <A HREF="TestScores.htm" TARGET="_top">here.</FONT></A></UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>This is what high energy middle school English classrooms should be about: </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Exploring the beauty and precision of language...</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Acquiring the skills to write and read increasingly complex and effective sentence patterns...</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Developing the abiliity to generate richer, more varied sentences that naturally compel writers to provide higher levels of evidence and supporting detail...</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>...And the satisfaction of seeing one's writing skills grow on a daily basis. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Why shouldn't a writing class be the most exciting class in the entire school?</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>Imagine a selection of sentences written by your 7th-12th graders as part of a short (two paragraph) creative writing assignment entitled "Still Life: <B> An Old Work Shoe":</B></UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>"...a slothful bootlace curls, loops and winds dronishly through the rusty, metal holes, creating a clustered, knotted look"</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>"...its worn, brass eyelets rusting, the dreary shoe tugs toothlessly at a besmirched, spurious lace..."</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>"descending and submerging, a criss-cross patterned sole sinks into the damp, boggy soil..."</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>"a seam, ravelling and slipping, arches around the worn and dusty surface...a mucky, sweat-blemished shoe tongue cowers between two mountains of uplifting leather..."</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>"a silver, dulled hook, its metal oxidizing, holds out its ends to clasp on to ancient, threadbare laces..."</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>These sentences were crafted by my own students (grades 7 & 8) who were half-way through an 18 week curriculum that developed voice and fluency at the same time that it developed sentence construction skills.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Sentences like these are emblematic of a dramatically heightened student awareness of the precision and descriptive power of language. This awareness is the important thing...and its cross-curricular transferability extends to every writing and reading assignment made in each and every class. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Using the same program that I have used with over 5,000 students, teachers guide their middle school classes through a seamless series of concrete, easily teachable lessons that lead to sentence construction proficiency. No textbooks are required; no handouts are distributed.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Regardless of background or preparation, middle school teachers now have the opportunity to guide students beyond the limited entry level language patterns that they brought with them when they entered the classroom. I invite all teachers of writing--whether novices or experts--to join me on this instructional journey.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=4 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus><B>Topschools Writing Program:</B></FONT> <P><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>An 18-36 week writing curriculum that develops high performance writing, reading and thinking skills for all student participants, grades 7-12. </UL></FONT></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=4 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus><B>Impact for Teachers:</B></FONT> <P><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Topschools middle school writing curriculum guides teachers & middle school students through a seamless sequence of short, high interest middle school writing activities that develop voice, fluency, analytical power and sentence construction skills. Middle school writing activities are focused, have clear targets, and provide for frequent closure and student demonstration. Sharing of middle school student work develops confidence, as well as pride in new learning. Middle school writing lessons are designed to be taught effectively, whether the teacher is a veteran or a newcomer to composition and sentence construction. I provide one year of unlimited email support in order to guarantee teacher success. Questions about the curriculum, about instructional strategies, about next steps--all will be responded to within 24 hours or less. This curriculum addresses and <U>challenges</U> the full spectrum of student abilities--from those below grade level to those in Advanced Placment courses.</UL></FONT></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=4 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus><B>Impact for Middle School Students:</B></FONT> <P><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Undeveloped language skills can impose limits on the depth and quality of student thinking. In this curriculum, students learn to design, write and read sentences that force higher order language and thinking skills. With skills like these, students overpower standardized tests that measure student thinking, writing and reading. </FONT></UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=4 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus>Overview of Topschools Writing Program:</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Q: How do middle school students learn?</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>A: Middle school students learn by receiving clear instructions about what is expected, clear examples of what is expected, and numerous in-class opportunities to practice and to share their mastery of learning targets.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Q: How do middle school students internalize this learning?</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>A: Repetition and reinforcement are the keys: clear tactics for sentence construction are presented, and students are obligated to reproduce and share these during class in short, targeted, descriptive writing assignments.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Q: How can middle school students buy into this curriculum and its activities?</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>A: Short, very specific, high interest descriptive writing activities create clear targets, and provide quick closure, success and reinforcement. Students can clearly see their writing skills grow on a daily basis.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial> Opportunities for group collaboration create shared discovery and enthusiasm for learning in the classroom.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Q: Is this another grammar program? I already have a room full of grammar texts.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>A: We all do. And we have all tried to use them, or their workbook derivatives at one time or another in order to teach writing skills. The Topschools program has a strong grammatical and sentence construction emphasis, absolutely. Because it is about the English language and its use, the contents of the program, when read as a list of topics, look very much like the contents of a grammar book: verbals, appositives, introductory participial phrases and so on.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>But here the similarity ends. The Topschools middle schools writing program is a method; a way of teaching, a way of practicing, a way of engaging students, and a way of sequencing specific learning activities so that each builds upon what has come before as students journey toward mastery. This is the method that has been missing from our instructional practice; and this absence has made writing instruction such a dreary task for so many--especially for middle school students. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Q: What does "one year email support" mean for me as a teacher?</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>A: I am committed to your success as an educator. Purchasers of this middle school writing program have one year unlimited email support. I will collegially respond to your questions about the curriculum, about sentence structure, about grammar, and about instructional strategies within 24 hours of receipt of your query. Brainstorms and troubleshooting questions are very welcome.The achievement of your students--and your success in teaching them--are very important to me.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=4 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus>Sample Mastery Targets for Voice, Fluency and Precision</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Concrete nouns applied</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Abstract nouns applied</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Verbs and verbals applied</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Prepositional phrases & agreement issues </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Powerful word cache development</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Effective thesaurus use</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Troubleshooting six forms of redundancy</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Pathetic fallacy for voice</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Deploying parts of speech for voice and precision</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Powerful introductory & non-essential participial phrases—applied</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Powerful appositives applied</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Verb tense mastery—applied</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Introductory adverb clauses applied for richness & complexity</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Non essential subordinate clauses applied</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Sentence marking activities: keep it simple</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Comma rules applied based on word function and sentence structure</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Simple, compound & complex sentences—applied and constructed</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=4 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus>Teacher Comments:</UL></P></FONT> <DIV ALIGN="left"><TABLE WIDTH=70% BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0><TBODY> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD> <UL> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>"I would definitely recommend it to another teacher!!! I believe it incorporates the essential elements for teaching writing which are giving the students the framework for evaluating their own work, and then it is designed to make them practice what they learn. I especially like how it is designed to make them think about writing in a whole new way. 'Evocative' is our new mantra."</UL></P> </TD></TR> <TBODY> </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV ALIGN="left"><TABLE WIDTH=75% BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0><TBODY> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD> <UL> <P><UL><font face=arial><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR=#000000>"What I liked about this curriculum was it created a systematic, organized approach to writing. I liked how the writing was broken down into specific building blocks that we could practice together."</FONT></P></UL> </TD></TR> <TBODY> </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV ALIGN="left"><TABLE WIDTH=75% BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0><TBODY> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD> <UL> <P><UL><font face=arial><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR=#000000>"At the very beginning of the school year I took one day and had the students write two pages about anything they wanted. I saved these papers and pulled them out after completing the 'shoe' assignment. I asked them to evaluate their own paper and come up with at least eight problems...I was VERY EXCITED as I listened to the students evaluate their own work. They were all disgusted and described their writing as 'kindergarten.' Several students noticed right off that they hadn't used a single adjective or adverb! Other students noticed redundancy in their word choices and sentence structure...So when I think about specific gains that my students have made, the biggest stride is that they are starting to evaluate their own work and they have a framework for evaluating their work."</UL></P> </TD></TR> <TBODY> </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV ALIGN="left"><TABLE WIDTH=75% BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0><TBODY> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD> <UL> <P><UL><font face=arial><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR=#000000>"[My students] have a new awareness of what makes an interesting sentence...I think it is a huge benefit that I can say to the students, 'use a past participle in this sentence' and they know what I mean. it is also helpful that I can point out to them, when they have written a failed 'its variation', "where is your subject?" Where is your verb, and they can go back and study the sentence and fix the problem.&quot</UL></P> </TD></TR> <TBODY> </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV ALIGN="left"><TABLE WIDTH=75% BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0><TBODY> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD> <UL> <P><UL><font face=arial><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR=#000000>"Hi Bruce, thought I would check in again. We just finished up the first comma rules. I really enjoyed teaching these because the kids were able to write some interesting sentences. I had them write three sentences, all on the same topic, one with an IPP, an NEPP, and an 'its variation.' We spent a whole day on these, then I had the students present them orally, then I graded them, handed them back and had the students improve them. I was so pleased to see the improvement through the whole process. I think the students actually enjoyed the process as well because they were 'lighting' up when I talked with them individually about tone, consistency between word choices, adding additional adverbs and adjectives for interest, etc. It was really fun."</FONT></P></UL> </TD></TR> <TBODY> </TABLE> </DIV> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=5 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus>Pricing</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus>Topschools 18-36 week Writing Curriculum CD: Teacher guide to a seamless series of learning activities that develop proficiency in sentence construction and language use.&nbsp (Please enable cookies to use Paypal)</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=4 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus><U>Single Teacher License & CD w/ one year email support:</U> <FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#0000FF> $199</P> <form target="paypal" action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"> <input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_xclick"> <input type="hidden" name="business" value="saari@topschools.com"> <input type="hidden" name="item_name" value="Topschools Writing Individual License"> <input type="hidden" name="amount" value="199.00"> <input type="hidden" name="shipping" value="5.00"> <input type="hidden" name="no_shipping" value="2"> <input type="hidden" name="return" value="http://www.topschools.com/PaymentConfirm.htm"> <input type="hidden" name="no_note" value="1"> <input type="hidden" name="currency_code" value="USD"> <input type="hidden" name="lc" value="US"> <input type="hidden" name="bn" value="PP-BuyNowBF"> <input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_buynowCC_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!"> <img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1"> </form> </UL></P> <P> </P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=4 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus><U>School Site License & CD w/ one year email support:</U><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#0000FF>  $279</FONT></P> <form target="paypal" action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"> <input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_xclick"> <input type="hidden" name="business" value="saari@topschools.com"> <input type="hidden" name="item_name" value="Topschools Writing Curriculum Multiple Teacher License"> <input type="hidden" name="amount" value="279.00"> <input type="hidden" name="shipping" value="5.00"> <input type="hidden" name="no_shipping" value="0"> <input type="hidden" name="no_note" value="1"> <input type="hidden" name="currency_code" value="USD"> <input type="hidden" name="lc" value="US"> <input type="hidden" name="bn" value="PP-BuyNowBF"> <input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_buynowCC_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="Make payments with PayPal - it's fast, free and secure!"> <img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1"> </form> </UL></P> <P>   </P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Note: <I>A single-teacher license is for the exclusive use of one teacher only. The teacher owns the curriculum, and may take it to any future teaching position. A site license is for the exclusive use of all teachers within a department or building. The curriculum may not be transferred to other programs or departments in other schools</I>.</UL> <UL><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR=#000000>*This personal note from Bellevue's superintendent followed a classroom visitation, 9/10/96. Bellevue International School and Lake Washington International Community School (both developed by Bruce Saari & colleagues) have been consistently ranked by Newsweek & USA Today in the top tier of schools nationwide. The test scores section of this website covers Bellevue International's achievement history all the way back to 1993.</B></UL></P> </FONT></B></P> </TD></TR> <TBODY> </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV ALIGN="left"><TABLE WIDTH=65% HEIGHT=35% BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0><TBODY> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD> <UL><P><A HREF="Products.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><FONT SIZE=3><B>Becoming an Effective Teacher</FONT></B></A> <P><A HREF="Writing.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><FONT SIZE=3><B>Writing Curriculum for Student Achievement </U></FONT></B></A></U> <P><A HREF="Articulated.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><FONT SIZE=3><B>Thematic 9-12 Humanities Curriculum</U></FONT></STRONG></B></A> <P><A HREF="Retention.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><FONT SIZE=3><B>Social Promotion...or Program Accountability?</U></FONT></B></A> <P><A HREF="Home.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><FONT SIZE=3><B>Transform the Teaching Culture</FONT></STRONG></B></A> <P><A HREF="StartUpFAQ.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><FONT SIZE=3><B>SLC Myths: Making it Better vs. Making it New</STRONG></B></A> </U> <P><A HREF="InternationalModel.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><FONT SIZE=3><B>Creating Schools of Choice: Bellevue International School 1991, Lake Washington International School 1997, Marysville Arts & Technology 2003</U></FONT></B></A> <P><A HREF="TestScores.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><FONT SIZE=3><B>Test Scores</I></U></FONT></STRONG></B></A> <P><A HREF="Academics.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><FONT SIZE=3><B>Essential Curriculum</FONT></B></A> </U> <P><A HREF="AdvancedPlacement.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><FONT SIZE=3><B>Articulated Curriculum</FONT></STRONG></B></A> </U></FONT> <P><FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="BruceSaariCV.htm" TARGET="_top">Saari CV</A> </FONT></B></P> <P><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR=#000000>E mail address: saari@topschools.com</FONT></A></P> <P><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top"><B><font face=papyrus><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR=#0000FF>HOME</FONT></B></A></P></UL> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV> <P></P> <P></P> <P></P> <P><B><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000></FONT><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR=#000000>               © 1998, 2009 </FONT></B></P></BODY></HTML> <HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Middle School Writing Curriculum Combines Mastery Learning and Creative Writing to Improve Miiddle School Achievement in Sentence Structure, Fluency, Voice and Grammar.</TITLE> <META NAME="Description" CONTENT="A middle school writing curriculum that raises middle school writing achievement using mastery learning and high interest writing activities. Sequential high interest creative writing assignments inspire students and target writing skills: grammar, sentence construction skills, voice, fluency and mastery of the conventions. Beyond the Six Traits: High school english and writing curriculum that improves student writing achievement in middle school English Classes. "> <META NAME="Keywords" CONTENT="middle school writing curriculum, middle school writing achievement, grammar and sentence structure, six traits rubrics, writing across the curriculum, daily oral language, writing curriculum for middle school, improving writing achievement, improving middle school writing instruction, teaching writing, grammar curriculum, sentence structure and grammar curriculum, six traits writing, writing in middle school, writing in the middle school curriculum, effective writing instruction for middle school teachers, quality of middle school writing, middle school writing curriculum activities, effective writing instruction, middle school english curriculum, middle school writing, six traits writing, writing inservice, writing curriculum development, english test scores, writing test scores, test score, standardized test scores"> </HEAD> <FRAMESET COLS="25%,75%" BORDER="0" FRAMEBORDER="0" FRAMESPACING="0"> <NOFRAMES> <BODY> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=5 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus>Transform the Quality of Middle School Writing</FONT></U></P> <P><font face=arial><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR=#000000>"Bruce, The proof of any teacher's effectiveness is in the performance of his students, and you and I both know that the work your kids have produced is superb. Their observation skills, their ability to use language to vividly describe their observations, and their rapidly increasing understanding of syntax and sentence structure are among the most impressive I've ever seen as an English teacher, principal, or superintendent in any school at any grade level or program.</P> <P><FONT SIZE=2>The fact that you have produced this level of accomplishment with such young kids is incredible."</FONT></P> <P><font face=arial><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR=#000000>--Bellevue Supt. Mike Riley visits Saari's Bellevue International School 7th grade writing class*</FONT></STRONG></B></P> </TD></TR> <TBODY> </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV ALIGN="left"><TABLE WIDTH="70%" BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0><TBODY> <TR VALIGN="top"> <TD> <P>   </P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=5 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus>                 To all middle school teachers of writing:</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>There are no shortcuts to writing achievement breakthroughs within your classrooms.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Yet, many teachers continue to opt for quick fix activities that teach students to spot conventional errors...</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>But that do not guide them to go beyond the language skills they brought with them when they entered the classroom.</UL></EM></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>Our goal is guide middle school students to develop enthusiasm for word choice, for precision, and for finding language that communicates powerfully and clearly. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>A study of Six Traits rubrics will not do it. Daily oral language will not do it. Programs for writing across the curriculum will not do it. Merely assigning more writing will not do it. Neither will school-wide writing across the curriculum programs fulfill this expectation. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>A highly successful teacher of writing at the middle school level must engender a love of language within his/her students, and must have a curriculum that builds enthusiasm for writing at the same time that it overcomes the language laziness and resistance that often goes hand in hand with adolescence. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>Such a teacher has a high goal: to meet middle school students where they are...and then take them to <U>where they are not</U>: toward much higher language choice and sentence construction skill levels. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>Such breakthrough achievements in writing achievement require middle school teachers to <U>transform</U> student awareness of language possibilities, and to equip their middle school students with the tools they need to move beyond self-limiting, entry-level language patterns. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>More writing is not the same as better writing; and engaging groups of middle school students in the task of making an elementary level sentence "correct" does not change its nature as an elementary sentence. Neither does it transform their awareness of what might be possible.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Student writing breakthroughs can only be achieved in a writing program that is lively, easy to teach, and that combines systematic, cumulative skill development with short, high interest assignments that are designed for frequent closure and quick turnaround. A program where middle school students put in the effort, master a technique, and then can quickly see the results of their achievement.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>In a high powered writing achievement program for middle school, students must be guided to do the work, not study or review rubrics, or prepare for standardized tests. Middle school students will easily surpass standardized test expectations once their classrooms have become laboratories for skill development and application. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>A study of Six Traits rubrics will not do it. Daily oral language will not do it. Programs for writing across the curriculum will not do it. Merely assigning more writing will not do it. Neither will school-wide writing across the curriculum programs fulfill this expectation. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>The Topschools writing program is the product of over thirty years of teaching reading, writing and thinking at the secondary level, grades 7-12. My constant goal: how to find the key to unlock student resistance to writing and to thinking about, and valuing written expression. Standardized test score results for my student writers are available <A HREF="TestScores.htm" TARGET="_top">here.</FONT></A></UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>A study of Six Traits rubrics will not do it. Daily oral language will not do it. Programs for writing across the curriculum will not do it. Merely assigning more writing will not do it. Neither will school-wide writing across the curriculum programs fulfill this expectation. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>This is what high energy middle school English classrooms should be about: </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>The excitement of exploring the beauty and precision of language...</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>The acquisition of the skills necessary to write and read increasingly complex and effective sentence patterns...</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Developing the abiliity to generate richer, more varied sentences that naturally compel writers to provide higher levels of evidence and supporting detail...</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>...And the satisfaction of seeing one's writing skills grow on a daily basis. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Why shouldn't a writing class be the most exciting class in the entire school?</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>Imagine a selection of sentences written by your 7th-12th graders as part of a short (two paragraph) creative writing assignment entitled "Still Life: <B> An Old Work Shoe":</B></UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>"...a slothful bootlace curls, loops and winds dronishly through the rusty, metal holes, creating a clustered, knotted look"</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>"...its worn, brass eyelets rusting, the dreary shoe tugs toothlessly at a besmirched, spurious lace..."</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>A study of Six Traits rubrics will not do it. Daily oral language will not do it. Programs for writing across the curriculum will not do it. Merely assigning more writing will not do it. Neither will school-wide writing across the curriculum programs fulfill this expectation. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>"descending and submerging, a criss-cross patterned sole sinks into the damp, boggy soil..."</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>"a seam, ravelling and slipping, arches around the worn and dusty surface...a mucky, sweat-blemished shoe tongue cowers between two mountains of uplifting leather..."</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>"a silver, dulled hook, its metal oxidizing, holds out its ends to clasp on to ancient, threadbare laces..."</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>These sentences are independent creations--not fill the blanks templates created by the instructor. They were crafted by my 7th & 8th grade students who were half-way through an 18 week curriculum that developed voice and fluency at the same time that it developed sentence construction skills.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Overwritten as they are, these sentences are emblematic of a dramatically heightened awareness of the precision and descriptive power of language. This awareness is the important thing...and its cross-curricular transferability extends to every writing and reading assignment made in each and every class. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Using the same program that I have used with over 5,000 students, teachers guide their middle school classes through a seamless series of concrete, easily teachable lessons that lead to proficiency. No textbooks are required; no handouts are distributed.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Regardless of background or preparation, teachers now have the opportunity to become the master writing instructors that each aspires to be. I invite all teachers of writing--whether novices or experts--to join me on this instructional journey.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=4 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus><B>Topschools Writing Program:</B></FONT> <P><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>9-18 week writing curriculum develops high performance writing, reading and thinking skills for all student participants, grades 7-12. </UL></FONT></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>A study of Six Traits rubrics will not do it. Daily oral language will not do it. Programs for writing across the curriculum will not do it. Merely assigning more writing will not do it. Neither will school-wide writing across the curriculum programs fulfill this expectation. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=4 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus><B>Impact for Teachers:</B></FONT> <P><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Topschools writing curriculum guides teachers & middle school students through a seamless sequence of short, high interest writing activities that develop voice, fluency, analytical power, and sentence construction skills. Activities are focused, have clear targets, and provide for frequent closure and student demonstration. Sharing and demonstration of student work develops confidence, as well as pride in new learning. Lessons are designed to be taught effectively, whether the teacher is a veteran or a newcomer to composition and sentence construction. This curriculum addresses and <U>challenges</U> the full spectrum of student abilities--from those below grade level to those in Advanced Placment courses.</UL></FONT></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>A study of Six Traits rubrics will not do it. Daily oral language will not do it. Programs for writing across the curriculum will not do it. Merely assigning more writing will not do it. Neither will school-wide writing across the curriculum programs fulfill this expectation. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=4 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus><B>Impact for Students:</B></FONT> <P><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Undeveloped language skills can impose limits on the depth and quality of student thinking. In this curriculum, middle school students learn to design, write and read sentences that force higher order language and thinking skills. With skills like these, middle school students overpower standardized tests that measure student thinking, writing and reading. </FONT></UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=4 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus>Overview of Topschools Writing Program:</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Q: How do students learn?</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>A: Middle school students learn by receiving clear instructions about what is expected, clear examples of what is expected, and numerous in-class opportunities to practice and to share their mastery of learning targets.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Q: How do middle school students internalize this learning?</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>A: Repetition and reinforcement are the keys: clear tactics for sentence construction are presented, and students are obligated to reproduce and share these during class in short, targeted writing assignments.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Q: How can students buy into this curriculum and its activities?</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>A: Short, very specific, high interest descriptive writing activities create clear targets, and provide quick closure, success and reinforcement. Middle school students can clearly see their writing skills grow on a daily basis.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial> Opportunities for group collaboration create shared discovery and enthusiasm for learning in the classroom.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Q: Is this another grammar program? I already have a room full of grammar texts.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>A: We all do. And we have all tried to use them, or their workbook derivatives at one time or another in order to teach writing skills to our middle school students. The Topschools program has a heavy grammatical and sentence construction emphasis, absolutely. Because it is about the English language and its use, the contents of the program, when read as a list of topics, look very much like the contents of a grammar book: verbals, appositives, introductory participial phrases and so on.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>But here the similarity ends. The Topschools program is a method; a way of teaching, a way of practicing, a way of engaging middle school students, and a way of sequencing specific learning activities so that each adds to what has come before as they guide the student to mastery. This is the method that has been missing from our instructional practice; and this absence has made writing instruction such a daunting task for so many--especially for students. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000>A study of Six Traits rubrics will not do it. Daily oral language will not do it. Programs for writing across the curriculum will not do it. Merely assigning more writing will not do it. Neither will school-wide writing across the curriculum programs fulfill this expectation. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=4 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus>Topschools Writing is Not A Traditional Approach:</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Middle school emphasis on in-class laboratory learning</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Middle school emphasis on interaction, frequent closure, frequent feedback/formative assessment</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>De-emphasis on daily grading—the work is done in class and students know instantly how they stand</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Middle school emphasis on application of new learning NOW</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Middle school emphasis on starting with simple concepts and moving to highly challenging complexity</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Emphasis on short sentence and multiple sentence assignments that target skills and provide quick turnaround and classroom critique</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Middle school emphasis on “getting it," “demonstrating it” and “using it” </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Middle school emphasis on observation & discovery</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Opportunities for group collaboration, but always an emphasis on individual products and accountability</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Required classroom materials: One good quality thesaurus for each student. One dictionary per two students.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=4 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus>Sample Mastery Targets for Voice, Fluency and Precision</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Concrete nouns applied</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Abstract nouns applied</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Verbs and verbals applied</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Prepositional phrases & agreement issues </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Powerful word cache development</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Effective thesaurus use</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Troubleshooting six forms of redundancy</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Pathetic fallacy for voice</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Deploying parts of speech for voice and precision</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Powerful introductory & non-essential participial phrases—applied</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Powerful appositives applied</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Verb tense mastery—applied</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Introductory adverb clauses applied for richness & complexity</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Non essential subordinate clauses applied</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Sentence marking activities: keep it simple</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Comma rules applied based on word function and sentence structure</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Simple, compound & complex sentences—applied and constructed</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Short high interest creative writing assignments that become the template for all future assignments that are teacher generated</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=5 COLOR=#000000><font face=papyrus>Pricing</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Topschools 9-18 week Writing Curriculum CD contents: teacher guide to a seamless series of learning activities that develop proficiency in sentence construction and language use. </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>It's not Daily Oral Language: How to improve high school writing achievement: A middle school writing curriculum for student achievement: when it comes to teaching sentence structure, voice, fluency and conventions, there are no short-cuts to improved middle school student achievement in literacy and writing. Improving writing achievement for middle school students depends upon careful, systematic high school writing curriculum activities. Raising middle school writing test scores: teaching sentence structure to middle school students for writing mastery; grammar curriculum for writing achievement; middle school english teachers can use high school writing curriculum to improve student writing performance for high school students in their English classes by emphasizing a structured and creative approach to mastery of composition and grammar. High interest middle school writing assignments can help new teachers develop powerful writing schools amongst their middle school students. Creative grammar curriculum for middle school: sentence structure for voice, conventions and fluency. And yet the "long route" can seem so dreary to so many middle school students!</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>What does an effective middle school writing curriculum look like? How to improve middle school writing achievement.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>How to improve middleschool writing achievement: Middle school writing curriculum: improve student writing in middle school. Raise writing achievement in middle school: writing curriculum for middle school english instruction. Middle school english writing curriculum increases middle school writing achievement and middle school writing test scores. Improving middle school writing test scores: a middle school writing curriculum that teaches middle school writers to develop voice, fluency and mastery of the conventions. Improve grammar and sentence structure curriculum.the Six Traits middle school writing curriculum activities are post hoc: they assume that careful, systematic writing instruction--teaching sentence structure, voice, fluency and mastery of writing conventions-- has occurred. It's not daily oral language. Rather than reviewing Six Traits rubrics, an effective middleschool writing curriculum for middle school teachers should aim at developing student writing skills in a sequential fashion. Improving writing test scores in middle school: the study of Six Traits rubrics and accompanying Daily Oral Language activities bring little lasting benefit to middle students who are not yet alert to language possibilities, and who have limited experience in tracking the logical unfolding of complex sentence patterns. Improving middle school writing test scores is a natural by product of deliberate middle school writing instruction. Improving writing test scores: middle school writing curriculum activities for teaching sentence structure, voice, fluency, and mastery of the conventions--reflected in improved writing test scores--:</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>The break-through literacy that we seek in our students' high school writing curriculum activities is best developed through a careful and systematic study of the fundamentals of language structure, grammatical logic and syntax. A middle school English curriculum that emphasizes language and sentence pattern development in their writing students can boost student achievement in writing at the high school level. It's not daily oral language. Middle school writing curriculum: improve student writing in middle school. Raise writing achievement: writing curriculum for middle school english instruction. Middle school english writing curriculum increases middle school writing achievement and middle school writing test scores. Improving writing test scores: a middle school writing curriculum that teaches middle school writers to develop voice, fluency and mastery of the conventions. Improve grammar and sentence structure curriculum in middle school. The Six Traits are not a writing instruction program; rather the Six Traits are a summation of what a carefully developed and sequenced writing instruction program should achieve--especially at the middle school level.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Middle school writing performance--reflected in improved writing test scores-- break throughs: but this "break-through" beyond subservience to six traits rubrics is only made possible by a high school writing program that combines systematic writing skill development with high interest creative writing assignments that provide numerous opportunities for students to publicly display and share their burgeoning skills in an effective middle school writing program. Teaching middle school students how to use parts of speech, subjects and verbs, participial phrases, appositive phrases, simple sentences, compound sentences, complex sentences, compount-complex sentences: grammar curriculum for student achievement.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>How to improve middle school writing achievement: this is what middle school writing curriculum and english classrooms should be about: middle school writing curriculum activities that lead to the excitement of discovering the beauty and expressivity of language...</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Improving middle school writing test scores:...By being immersed in an engaging, guided sequence of skill activities and performances that enable middle school students to transcend their entry level skills, and to see their communicative power increase daily. Middle school writing curriculum: improve student writing in high school. Raise middle school writing achievement: writing curriculum for middle school english instruction. Middle school english writing curriculum increases high school writing achievement and high school writing test scores. Improving writing test scores: a middle school writing curriculum that teaches high school writers to develop voice, fluency and mastery of the conventions. Improve grammar and sentence structure curriculum.Creative grammar curriculum and sentence construction curriculum boost student achievement. Writing mastery and student writing achievement: grammar curriculum and sentence construction curriculum for student achievement.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Your students will learn to create a variety of participial and appositive phrases.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Your students will learn to correct the most common forms of redundancy in their own writing.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Your students will learn to select active verbs for sentence power.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Your middle school students will learn to punctuate correctly using grammatical knowledge.</UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Your middle school students will learn to (joyfully!) craft simple, compound and complex sentences in a wide array of variations and <U>on demand.</U></UL></P> </UL></P> <P><UL><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=#000000><font face=arial>Your middle school students will learn to deploy verbals (what are those?) for expressive power!</UL></P> <P><A HREF="Products.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><B>Becoming an Effective Teacher</FONT></B></A> <P><A HREF="Writing.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><B>Writing Curriculum for Student Achievement </U></FONT></B></A></U> <P><A HREF="Articulated.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><B>Thematic Humanities Curriculum</U></FONT></STRONG></B></A> <P><A HREF="Retention.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><B>Social Promotion...or Program Accountability?</U></FONT></B></A> <P><A HREF="Home.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><B>Transform the Teaching Culture</FONT></STRONG></B></A> <P></I><A HREF="InternationalModel.htm" TARGET="_top"><FONT SIZE=3><font face=papyrus><B><P>Creating Schools of Choice: Bellevue International School, Lake Washington International Community School, Marysville Arts & Technology High School</U></B></A> <P><A HREF="StartUpFAQ.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><B>SLC Myths: Making it Better vs. Making it New</STRONG></B></A> </U> <P><A HREF="TestScores.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><B>Test Scores</I></U></FONT></STRONG></B></A> <P><A HREF="Academics.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><B>Essential Curriculum</FONT></B></A> </U> <P><A HREF="AdvancedPlacement.htm" TARGET="_top"><font face=papyrus><B>Articulated Curriculum</FONT></STRONG></B></A> </U></FONT> <P><FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="BruceSaariCV.htm" TARGET="_top">Saari CV</A> </FONT></B></P> <P><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR=#000000>E mail address: saari@topschools.com</FONT></A></P> <P><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top"><B><font face=papyrus><FONT SIZE=2 COLOR=#0000FF>HOME</FONT></B></A></P> </BODY>