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Fratt Elementary showcases "Releasing Writers" pilot as district plans expansion
Summary
Fratt Elementary principals presented a year-long writing pilot, 'Releasing Writers,' demonstrating student growth in organization and detail and said the program will expand districtwide in coming years.
Fratt Elementary leaders told the Racine Unified School District board on May 18 that a district writing pilot, now called "Releasing Writers," produced measurable classroom gains and will expand beyond the school in future years.
"If you look at the growth that you've made, what word would you say?" a board member asked during a student interview shown in a video. A fourth-grade student responded, "I would say improvement. I'm writing better." The video and accompanying presentation highlighted use of graphic organizers, topic-introduction structures and district writing assessments.
Principal Kelly Goggins and Assistant Principal Kathleen Sern said the pilot grew from a smaller implementation and now supports classroom routines that help students annotate organizers, draft with increasing detail and revise more coherently. They said the districtwide name for the initiative is Releasing Writers and that the program will scale to additional schools in coming years.
Fratt staff credited instructional coaching and committed classroom teams for producing the observed student growth. The board heard examples from student interviews and work samples showing clearer topic sentences, idea-detail organization and improved revision practices.
Board members praised the students and the school's instructional leaders. The session continued to other agenda items after the presentation.
