Virginia Department of Education Approves Being a Writer Third Edition for Grades K-5

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA — [DATE] —The Virginia Department of Education, in collaboration with Virginia Literacy Partnerships, has determined that Collaborative Classroom’s Being a Writer™, Third Edition program meets the requirements of the Virginia Literacy Act and will be included on the Supplemental Instructional Program Guide K-5 as a supplemental writing program that meets expectations for all reviewed components for grades K–5.

Being a Writer is the only time-tested, research-based curriculum that teaches all essential components of comprehensive writing instruction while integrating explicit social skills development. The program develops students as skilled writers and responsible, caring members of the classroom community.

“The inclusion of Being a Writer on Virginia’s Supplemental Instructional Program Guide will provide even more Virginia educators with the resources they need to provide students with high-quality writing instruction, and help students grow into confident, capable writers with the ability to express themselves with clarity and power,” said Kelly Stuart, Ed.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Collaborative Classroom.

Virginia’s Supplemental Instructional Program Guide K-5 describes the Being a Writer program as follows: 

“Materials are thoughtfully organized with clear teacher guidance, embedded formative assessments, and rubrics that support consistent implementation and instructional decision-making. Professional development videos further enhance support by showing teachers modeling specific routines with students. The program supports students in producing abundant, authentic writing that is text-connected and purposeful.”

The approval of Being a Writer builds on Virginia’s previous approvals of other Collaborative Classroom programs that also meet the requirements of the Virginia Literacy Act. 

SIPPS®, Fifth Edition was approved in April 2025 for inclusion in Virginia’s Intervention Instructional Program Guide 6-8, joining SIPPS, Fourth Edition for grades K–5 for their Intervention Instructional Program Guide K-5. Being a Reader™ Small-Group Reading Sets was also approved in 2024.

Learn more about Virginia’s approval of Being a Writer, SIPPS, and Being a Reader Small-Group Reading Sets:

https://www.collaborativeclassroom.org/virginia-literacy-act-recommended-programs/

About Being a Writer

Being a Writer is a time-tested, evidence-based K–5 writing program that integrates process, genre, craft, and grammar instruction with explicit social skills development to foster students’ ability to communicate as writers and become responsible, caring members of the classroom community. Being a Writer can be implemented as a powerful, stand-alone writing curriculum for grades K–5 or serve as a seamlessly integrated program with the comprehensive K–5 English Language Arts curriculum, Collaborative Literacy.

Learn more about Being a Writer: https://www.collaborativeclassroom.org/programs/being-a-writer/ 

Background

The Virginia Literacy Act requires the Virginia Department of Education to create an advisory list of instructional programming that includes evidence-based literacy instruction aligned to science-based reading research. 

A supplemental program provides additional evidence-based literacy instruction and practice on a specific literacy skill (i.e., phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, writing) aligned to science-based reading research. The supplemental program is used to enhance a core instructional program during whole-class or small-group instruction. Teachers use a supplemental program when the core instructional program does not provide adequate instruction or practice opportunities in a specific literacy skill to meet student needs. 

About Collaborative Classroom

Collaborative Classroom is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization committed to ensuring that all students become readers, writers, and thinkers who learn from, care for, and respect one another. Through evidence-based programs and embedded professional learning, the organization transforms teaching and learning and builds thriving school communities.

Since the organization’s founding, our work has reached more than 10 million students and 440,000 educators across the country.

Learn more at collaborativeclassroom.org/

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Miki Terasawa
Director of Marketing
mterasawa@collaborativeclassroom.org