What About Creative Writing?

We know that the Common Core State Standards require students to be able to write real or imagined narratives. How does this play out in the light of the upcoming Common Core tests?

I have looked over a wide variety of writing and language tests that are aligned to the Common Core Standards. I do this so you don't have to. It is important to note that I used only official sources as opposed to commercial programs. I have seen too many commercial sites that have slapped the Common Core aligned label on their offerings without making any real changes.

The Tennessee tests for this school year are the most different from what we have been used to having our students do. The only writing tasks they will require are summarizing and writing from nonfiction sources.

The PARCC and the Smarter Balanced practice tests and sample items do include questions that require students to create and/or revise writing using the narrative structure. However, that majority of the writing tested, over three fourths, is nonfiction writing from multiple sources.

This will require a shift away from traditional writing instruction that, especially in the early grades, has focused on teaching children how to write imaginative stories. Most of your writing instruction should focus on informative texts. At the same time, don't neglect narrative writing. Focus on quality. Students are expected to be able to heighten interest by including dialogue and vivid descriptions.