Using Writer's Toolbox to Achieve School Goals
Writer’s Toolbox helps Eumundi State School achieve school-wide goals and raise student performance.
Background
Anthony Swan is principal at Eumundi State School, a beautiful school on the Sunshine Coast with a roll of around 650 students. Swan is so convinced about the impact of Writer’s Toolbox, he’s now implemented it in three schools, each school achieving significant lift in writing outcomes.
When Swan arrived at Eumundi, improving student writing outcomes was one of his top three goals for the year, and he knew Writer’s Toolbox would help him achieve it. He started by introducing all Eumundi staff to the Writer’s Toolbox approach and the 12 Sentence Styles. Then, Swan took six staff members to a Writer’s Toolbox 2-Day Teacher Writing Conference led by founder Dr Ian Hunter. Those six staff became the early adopters; they “built the capacity of all our staff on the skills we use to make writing enjoyable to read.”
“It’s those simple, explicit, research- based skills that Writer’s Toolbox delivers.”
Teacher impact
Swan knows that lifting teacher skills and practice has a long-term impact
in the classroom. And he’s been impressed by the authentic knowledge transfer that occurs in the professional development phase of the Writer’s Toolbox programme. “One of the best moments,” Swan says, “is when you expose teachers to Writer’s Toolbox and the ease of embedding it, and they get that ‘aha’ moment. That moment where they say: this just makes sense.”
“It’s those simple, explicit, research- based skills that Writer’s Toolbox delivers,” he says. Swan is equally clear how the research on Writer’s Toolbox and the evidence of greater school performance gave him the confidence to implement Writer’s Toolbox in three schools. “Unless there is research to show it actually lifts student writing outcomes, I wouldn’t implement it. That gives confidence to my teachers to teach those skills.”
Student impact
Watching students interact with Writer’s Toolbox, Swan sees how driven they are; “Students love the instant feedback they’re getting to improve their writing. Especially boys. When they see their feedback, they’re comparing and competing with their friends, asking, ‘How did you get that score?’. It motivates them.”
“Students love the instant feedback— especially boys."
Assisting teachers and motivating students
Eumundi teachers are delighted with the clarity and assistance Writer’s Toolbox provides. Teachers easily see how each student is progressing. Instant feedback also motivates students and pushes them to continually improve their writing, saving teacher marking time.
“Writer’s Toolbox is helping to create independent, self- managed learners.”
Head of Special Education Paul Midgley agrees the feedback feature
is a powerful tool for both students and teachers. “Feedback on writing is typically a difficult aspect of teaching,” says Midgely. “With students able to get instant feedback through Writer’s Toolbox, they don’t need to wait for a teacher to become available. Writer’s Toolbox is helping to create independent, self-managed learners.”
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