The One World Program

The One World Program trains teachers who work directly with students in their classes to improve students’ research and writing skills, build knowledge, and help students propose solutions to social justice issues that are important to them. Students research and write essays and turn them into presentations for their communities. For every school partner, we tailor our program resources and services to meet the unique needs of each school, driving our success with different populations. We expect at least 70% of students will improve their research and writing skills.

 

For Teachers

  • Curriculum: A print and digital Teacher Portal provides access to all lesson plans, lesson slide decks, instructional videos, and assessments.
  • Professional Development: Tailored training that turns new teachers into prepared and confident writing instructors while elevating the skills of veteran educators.
  • Teacher Support: Coaching and guidance to help teachers to overcome obstacles and seize instructional opportunities.
  • Evaluation: Pre- and post-assessments graded by independent reviewers that evaluate Common Core research and writing skills.

For Students

  • Student Journals: Students receive print or digital writing journals to capture their research and writing activities as they work toward a completed essay.
  • Research Portal: Classrooms receive access to One World’s online database of vetted sources that provide credible evidence for student essays.
  • Published Writing: All students have the opportunity to submit their writing to be published on the organization’s website and in its print publications.
  • Prizes: One World annually awards $5,000 to students who compete in our writing competitions.

The Curriculum

The curriculum has four levels for middle and high school, each with a recommended, age-appropriate theme:

  • Grade 5/6 – School Issues
  • Grade 7/8 – National & Civic Issues
  • Grade 9/10 – Cultural & Global Issues
  • Grade 11/12 – College & Career Issues

For the adult-level curriculum, students are free to explore a topic of their choice.

Sample research topics include Homelessness, Screen Time, Cultural Appropriation vs. Appreciation, Affordable Health Care, and Domestic Violence.

One World Program Stages

Stage 1: Student Exemplar Analysis

Students are introduced to the foundation, uses, and vocabulary of the problem-solution approach to argumentative writing through an analysis of a student exemplar.

Stage 2: Research

In this stage, students build background knowledge and reflect on their personal connection to the topic. Then, they draft a claim and practice identifying quality sources and evidence. Finally, students conduct in-depth research to find evidence that will help them make their arguments.

Stage 3: Writing

Students are guided through the process of selecting the best evidence to support their claim, organizing their research into an outline, and transferring their conclusions into a draft of their argumentative essay. They then provide and receive peer feedback and engage in revision toward a final draft.

Stage 4: Presentation

Throughout each stage, students practice public speaking skills to refine their ideas and prepare for a final presentation that can be led in small peer groups, whole classes, or a school-wide celebration.

Results

Academically, One World students get statistically significant gains because they learn skills like how to:

  • think critically and develop cogent arguments
  • identify problems
  • develop actionable solutions
  • create hooks to engage an audience
  • build a research plan
  • use evidence
  • outline to organize ideas
  • write with clarity
  • give and receive peer feedback
  • revise to strengthen writing
  • present ideas to inform and persuade

What’s more difficult to quantify but easy to observe is how the program gives students voice, builds knowledge, and draws out students’ innate potential and brilliance.

Program Timeline

Our timeline allows our team to best support you and showcase your students’ gains in research and writing skills.

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Professional Development

We believe that when teachers receive a proven and flexible curriculum, respectful training, and support, their students meet and exceed expectations.

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Karen Rivas Carlos Rosario

There are few high quality materials on the market to teach writing to students like ours. The entire One World framework and approach to teaching writing fits perfectly with what our students need. It builds both student learning and community at our school.

Karen Rivas
Principal, Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School

My students were so proud of their work. As I was printing out their essays, they couldn’t believe they had actually done it. They took their printed essays around with them all day and wanted to show them to their other teachers. I had one student who hadn’t even really written a paragraph before who wrote a three-page argumentative essay.

Kris Crossett
Kingsman Academy - a DC charter school that serves high-needs students
sanderson

“We had an early college program visit us and they had our students write an on-the-spot essay. They said we had the best writing they had seen in DC. It was the One World Program. I cannot stop singing your praises because I know it works.”

Shelley Anderson
Principal Meridian Public Charter School

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