Adding writing prompts and essays to state English language arts assessments shifted classroom instruction toward writing¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · theoretical r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2024 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? When states included writing prompts and essay writing on ELA assessments, teachers began focusing on writing in the classroom. → Badrinarayan 2024

Evidence¶

Badrinarayan 2024¶

Badrinarayan, A. (2024). Design principles for instructionally relevant assessment systems. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/111.528

q2 · i? · theoretical · r2

The report cites several studies (endnoted) as evidence that assessment content and formats influence the nature of instruction: "teachers began focusing on writing in the classroom" once state ELA assessments included writing prompts and essays. The report does not print effect sizes.

"several studies found that when states started including writing prompts and essay writing on their English language arts assessments, teachers began focusing on writing in the classroom."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Grammar instruction and skill drills show little carryover to composition success — related
• The Teacher Potential Project produced positive impacts on specific Common Core-aligned instructional practices, including engaging students with texts, supporting text evidence use, and supporting higher order thinking — related
• Instructionally relevant decisions influenced by state assessments are made by many actors beyond day-to-day teacher-student interactions — a broader claim this one bears on