Writing Contiuums

> Right now, our K-12 English department is working on our writing continuum and
> writing portfolios. Does your school currently use these? If so, how long
> have you used them (or one of them)? What successes/failures/problems have
> you encountered?
>
> Do you have a department chair for the entire English department or is there
> also a chair for the lower grades? If there are two or three chairs, how do
> they work together to create a cohesive K-12 writing program?