Voyager Sopris Learning Announces New Edition of Step Up to Writing: Every Strategy Is Now Built to Support the CCSS

DALLAS, April 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Voyager Sopris Learning^™, provider of a comprehensive suite of evidence-based instruction, assessments, and professional services, is pleased to announce the release of the Fourth Edition of Step Up to Writing^®, grades 6–8, which is now available for classroom implementation. This new edition has been completely revised to respond to the steep increase in writing expectations outlined in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

With this launch, every Step Up to Writing strategy is built to support specific standards in the areas of writing, language, reading, and speaking and listening. The three major text types emphasized in the CCSS—informative/explanatory, argument, and narrative writing—now have comprehensive sections/strategies to support teachers with in-depth, step-by-step writing instruction. Additionally, new grade-level-specific Unit Maps provide a sequence of instructional strategies to teach the text types; explicit focus is placed on supporting students in producing organized, clear, coherent writing; and there is new emphasis on using technology for research and to produce and publish work.

Also new to the Fourth Edition is a more robust assessment component to support teachers in collecting and using data to make instructional decisions. This component includes grade-level benchmark assessments; assessments that mirror the performance tasks of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), Smarter Balanced, and other high-stakes assessments; and Scoring Guides and data-tracking tools that are aligned with the writing expectations of the CCSS.

"With millions of students starting to field-test PARCC and Smarter Balanced assessments over the next several weeks, the call for high-quality writing instruction has never been more urgent," said George Logue, president of Voyager Sopris Learning. "Materials that delve deeply into the CCSS expectations, along with assessments that familiarize students with what they will encounter, are vital. For this new edition, we have completely overhauled the content, assessment, and organization of Step Up to meet the dramatic shifts in performance expectations."

To support educators in implementing this much more rigorous writing instruction, the new edition takes a multimedia approach to professional development, which includes point-of-use video modeling of key strategies; an online database to search Step Up to Writing strategies by CCSS; customized, in-person initial training and ongoing support; and explicit, step-by-step instruction in the Teacher Edition.

Although completely revised, the new edition retains the key elements that have made Step Up to Writing a top pick among educators: multimodal instruction, flexible implementation options, compatibility with any core curriculum, support for writing across content areas, and a comprehensive suite of proven writing strategies.

Additional information about Step Up to Writing, Fourth Edition, can be found at www.voyagersopris.com/stepuptowriting.

About Voyager Sopris Learning

Voyager Sopris Learning^™ is committed to partnering with school districts to overcome obstacles that students, teachers, and school leaders face every day. The suite of instructional and service solutions we provide is not only research based, but also evidence based—proven to increase student achievement and educator effectiveness. Our solutions have been fully tested in the classroom, ensuring that they are easy to implement and teacher friendly. They are innovative, both in overall instructional approach and in the strategic use of technology in blended and 100% online solutions, and they are supported by an unparalleled commitment to build local capacity for sustained success. With a comprehensive suite of instructional resources, we provide assessments, professional development and school-improvement services, literacy and math instructional tools—both comprehensive intervention and supplemental—and resources to build a positive school climate. Voyager Sopris Learning is a member of Cambium Learning Group, Inc. (ABCD), based in Dallas, Texas. For more information, please visit www.voyagersopris.com.

Media Contact:
Sandy Rothstein
Cambium Learning Group, Inc.
800.547.6747
[email protected]

Investor Contact:
Philip Davis
Cambium Learning Group, Inc.
[email protected] 

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SOURCE Cambium Learning Group