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CraftPlus^® unifies the writing program for a school or district with the first and only complete core writing curriculum based on explicitly teaching writing with Target Skills^® craft. CraftPlus supports grade-level teachers with 180 days of daily writing lessons. CraftPlus incorporates writing process and convention skills, and it enhances major rubric approaches. Unique instructional tiers differentiate writing instruction.

CraftPlus focuses on informational genres. It builds a school-wide writing community by embedding ongoing at-school professional development.

Program Components

CraftPlus K-8 Genre Map

Bird's Eye View of Writing Development and Target Skills across the Grades

Research Base

6 +1 Writing Traits Correlation

State Correlations

Case Study Data

Sample Downloads

Contact for More Information

CraftPlus Order Form

CraftPlus® On-site Training

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Get your school off to the best start with CraftPlus by adding a full day of tailored, on-site training-- the the most effective and economical way to begin creating a school-wide community of writers and informed writing teachers.

» Click here for more information.

Supports for CraftPlus® Starters

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*Teacher supports and free downloads excerpted from the CraftPlus Curriculum Guide, which is included in the complete CraftPlus program.

Free Downloads

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Click here for free downloads you can save, print, and use today!

District Adoption

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*Note: Special pricing available for district adoption of the CraftPlus program. Call 800-524-0634 for more info.

Meet Marcia Freeman

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Marcia S. Freeman is an author and an internationally recognized authority on writing craft. She has written more than fifty photo-illustrated science and geography guided reading books for Rourke Classroom Resources, Newbridge Educational, Rand McNally, and Red Road Publishing, as well as six professional titles for Maupin House.

In 2001, Maupin House released CraftPlus®, the culmination of Marcia’s comprehensive writing-craft instructional approach. The nation’s first and only K-8 writing curriculum and staff development resource focuses on teaching students the explicit Target Skills™ and techniques that all writers use. This innovative, video-based resource includes a spiraling, craft-based curriculum, instructional pacing charts, and professional books. It focuses on expository, informational genres to directly support core content-area reading programs. CraftPlus® includes classroom management techniques for writing workshop instruction and study guides for study-group learning.

» Click here to read Marcia S. Freeman's thoughts on how to assess student writing.

Testimonials

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"It works! Teaching writing as a 'craft' using Marcia Freeman's 'target skills' approach has helped all our students learn to write and to love writing. After years of struggling with one method after another, we have finally caught on to a winner. In a single year we substantially raised our 4th grade state-writing-assessment average, moving us from last in the county system of 21 schools to tenth. And I know the improvement will continue."

- Catherine Kitto, Florida Principal

"Two years ago, 27% of my students scored above the state average on the writing assessment, this year it was 100%, and all because of your workshops."

- Cindy Thibodeaux, Louisiana teacher

"I am so thrilled about using your techniques and lessons. I can't tell you enough about the impact they have had on my teaching! Any opportunity I get, I am sharing your lessons with teachers and children. It has made teaching writing so much more enjoyable for me."

- Teacher, Walker Elementary, Canton, OH

"I think Craft Plus is wonderful because of the targeted skills. Writing is hard to learn, and it is hard to teach.  Craft Plus gives teachers clear guidelines that are measurable, and most of all our children love to write.  We can't teach writing if we can't get them to write.  Our kids are writing and loving it!!!!!   That is the most important thing.  This is for the kids."

- Marilyn Maurer, Secondary Language Arts Consultant, Niles Community Schools
 

Read what else educators have to say, including their own teaching tips!