Group items tagged

This pack of text samples is designed to help children learn the essence of each text type. Please note that these texts have been specially written so that they do conform to the same rules. They should be seen simply as a basis. Once children have assimilated these and are regularly using them in their writing, they should be encouraged to look at variations and more sophisticated models. It is assumed that the order of teaching is as follows: * Teacher reads texts and encourages the class to suggest what the framework is (shared reading) * Teacher shows more texts and encourages children to see if their framework still applies (shared reading) * Teacher uses framework to model their own writing (modelled writing) * Teacher and children write a text between them using the framework (shared writing) * Groups of children write texts with teacher support (guided writing) * Children write texts independently (independent work/extended writing)

This web site provides an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and improving student writing based on the Six Traits Writing model. The links below provide an overview of the model along with the scoring rubrics for each trait. Exercises provided here will give students and teachers a chance to read sample writings, rate them, and compare their ratings with ratings made by English teachers. This will provide a valuable opportunity for both students and teachers to improve their understanding of the Six Traits and, in the end, improve their own writing.

"Teachers often would like to check the readability of a piece of writing. Edward Fry, formerly of the Rutgers University Reading Center, created one of the most widely used, and easy-to-use readability graphs for educators. Thanks go to McGraw-Hill for granting me permission to reproduce this information on the Web. (Taken from Fry, Edward.Elementary Reading Instruction. NY : McGraw Hill, 1977, p.217.) and most currently appearing in his book, The Reading Teachers Books of Lists (2006). Dr. Fry has let me know that the graph is copyright free, but one cannot alter the graph or directions and still call it the Fry Readability Graph. Thank you to Dr. Fry for letting me know teachers can use the graph, copyright free! "

"English powerpoints page Free English Powerpoint presentations. Great for KS1 KS2 KS3 KS4 and post 16 A level lessonplans, K-12 and more. Use and alter these presentations freely or any power point template used in this presentations site for other teachers. If you have any powerpoints then please consider submitting them for other teachers to download too. It's all about sharing and helping others. Powerpoints and whiteboards are likely to increase in popularity year by year as more and more schools adopt them."

Classroom Strategies Explicit strategy instruction is at the core of good comprehension instruction. "Before" strategies activate students' prior knowledge and set a purpose for reading. "During" strategies help students make connections, monitor their understanding, generate questions, and stay focused. "After" strategies provide students an opportunity to summarize, question, reflect, discuss, and respond to text. Teachers should help students to understand why a strategy is useful, how it is used, and when it is appropriate. Teacher demonstration and modeling are critical factors for success, and student discussion following strategy instruction is also helpful. The most frequently researched strategies can be applied across content areas; other content-area specific strategies are emerging, and we will include them here in the future.

You already spend a lot of time trying to persuade your parents or teachers to allow you to watch more TV or do less homework. Now you can use those same skills to write a persuasive essay!

In classrooms around the country, teachers need to teach reading to children who don't speak English, and they haven't been trained. Last year, the U.S. Department of Education convened a panel of scholars to determine the best research-based practices for teaching English language learners. The panel hopes to release its report in 2004. For this teleconference, we brought you three members of the panel who shared their expertise as independent researchers in the area of second language acquisition.

In classrooms around the country, teachers need to teach reading to children who don't speak English, and they haven't been trained. Last year, the U.S. Department of Education convened a panel of scholars to determine the best research-based practices for teaching English language learners. The panel hopes to release its report in 2004. For this teleconference, we brought you three members of the panel who shared their expertise as independent researchers in the area of second language acquisition.

Cooperative Learning as Method and Model in Second Language Teacher Education: collaborative teaching

The National Writing Project's 30 Ideas for Teaching Writing offers successful strategies contributed by experienced writing project teachers. Since NWP does not promote a single approach to teaching writing, readers will benefit from a variety of eclectic, classroom-tested techniques.

Teachers, with the help of Karon Reese (TOSA support), have compiled a list of books leveled by grade and Reading Recovery level. These are books that can be found in most school and public libraries.

Evaluating Student Portfolios At the end of the term/semester/year when the portfolio is submitted for summative evaluation, it is useful to review the contents as a whole and record data using the previously set criteria. One method of recording data is to prepare a grid with the criteria listed down one side and the checklist or rating scale across the top. If there is need to assign a numerical grade, designate numbers to each set of criteria on the checklist/rating scale and convert the evaluation into a number grade. Some examples of portfolio assessment and recording forms follow. The teacher can adapt these sample forms or create new ones.

There is absolutely no better way to understand the 6+1 Trait® Scoring analytical model than to use it yourself. Whether you are a teacher or a student, this instructional tool will help you better understand each of the six traits of writing. You will first have to select which area of writing you want to focus on. Select from the list below to further study an individual trait.

Assessment Strategies Using Reading Portfolios There are many good reasons, such as the following, for using reading portfolios: * They are an effective assessment tool. * They provide teachers with a wide variety of student work over a period of time. * They not only provide records of student growth, but also opportunities for students to monitor and be involved in their own reading development. * They help students collect, select, inspect, and reflect on their own reading, thus giving them self-assessment skills.

"The Writing Workshop, similar to the Reading Workshop, is a method of teaching writing using a workshop method. Students are given opportunities to write in a variety of genres and helps foster a love of writing. The Writing Workshop allows teachers to meet the needs of their students by differentiating their instruction and gearing instruction based on information gathered throughout the workshop."

"Week #33 Confessions of a Non-Non-Fiction Teacher"

"Supporting English language learners: A practical guide for Ontario educators Grades 1 to 8 Supporting English language learners: A practical guide for Ontario educators Grades 1 to 8, 2008, is designed to support and help teachers, principals, and other education professionals in elementary schools work effectively with English language learners. This resource guide provides a rich source of practical techniques, research findings, and strategies that can be put to immediate use in the classroom and in the school. It also contains valuable information on working with families and communities, and as a whole school, to enable English language learners achieve curriculum expectations while they learn English."

"30 Ideas for Teaching Writing The National Writing Project's 30 Ideas for Teaching Writing offers successful strategies contributed by experienced writing project teachers. Since NWP does not promote a single approach to teaching writing, readers will benefit from a variety of eclectic, classroom-tested techniques."

"Using Graphic Organizers Graphic organizers are excellent tools for helping students connect ideas and see relationships between different pieces of information. The goal is for students to expand their knowledge by understanding the material in their own way. Graphic organizers can be used for a variety of purposes, such as eliciting prior knowledge, demonstrating a sequence of events, and comparing and contrasting. "

"Welcome to the official Web site for the 2001 American-Canadian Mt. Everest Expedition, brought to you by Touchstone Energy. This educational Web site is designed for teachers and students in elementary and middle school grades. Although Ed Hommer's goal of being the first double amputee to reach the summit of the world's tallest mountain was not achieved, you can read his and other team members' journal entries from Mt. Everest in the Reading Trail section. The expedition was forced to end its quest in October after running out of time and into bad weather. To learn more about this expedition, click on Expedition Basecamp. Included in this site are over 30 lesson plans that address core learning objectives in reading, math, science and social studies. Each lesson plan includes: * A motivating introduction including student directions and learning objectives * Resources students use to complete the lesson (expedition journals and related data, bibliographies, Web site links, etc.) * A student worksheet that can be printed * Assessment strategies and formats "