A great post called The Evolution of Writing in a Math Class discusses the pros and cons of different techniques to meaningfully integrate writing in the math class. One technique is called RAFT which I highlight and provide resources for on my Writing Activities link and Writing in Some Content Areas link. RAFT is a great tool for understanding and conveying concepts from different perspectives. Writing Fix has some great resources for math RAFTs as well as a RAFT generator.
Another article gives 4 simple ideas for using writing in math to get students to analyze their mathematical thinking. Ideas range from assigning simple writing tasks, to having students read math related articles, to integrating math journaling, and to modeling writing for math students. Regardless of the techniques used, allowing for students to be reflective in their mathematical reasoning creates the critical and computational thinkers we strive to nurture.
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Conferring with students is the most important part of the writing workshop. It helps to monitor student progress and to guide the writer. The most effective instruction takes place during the conference. Here are some conferencing tips - https://drive.google.com/open?id=10OcYiFwQ3C-pmfrK30KxIKkvkPtzF8jYzra9MbP8upM As I met with fifth grade writing workshop classes, I was fortunate to see independent writers who were discriminating thinkers, probing ideas and taking a stand. This persuasive discourse and writing growth is attributed to daily writing, great lessons, continual modeling, and great anchor charts. Teachers were able to use the Units of Study as well as make instructional decisions throughout the units that allowed for growth of student writing. Whether you choose independent writing, guided writing, or investigations....here are some options for writing workshop structure...offered by Fountas and Pinnell. Use this graphic organizer with students as they combine evidence from multiple sources with their schema and connections to put the pieces together for SYNTHESIS.
Having students properly identify which type of writing they are required to compose can be tricky.....try these activities with students to help them out! Powerful anchor charts, busy writers, great growth in writing......It was great to see many of the 4th grade teachers embracing the writing workshop process and the students embracing the writing. There was an obvious sense that the writers cared, were vested, and were enthusiastic. It certainly showed in their writing. Many teachers were able to make some instructional decisions for modifications, yet still stayed true to the integrity of the program. Elements of the program that the teachers were using yielded great progress in student writing....
Teachers were thrilled with the carry over of skills from one unit to the next. From persuasive writing to informative writing, teachers saw students having "writing intuition" with respect to form to organize ideas, transitions to connect ideas, as well as elaboration to better share ideas and information. These students are ahead of the game, having a strong sense of the writing process, growing into strong, independent writers. Not only teachers, but also students are embracing that it is not about the number of finished products, but about the great quality, depth, and heart in the writing.
As I visited 3rd grade writing workshop classrooms last week, it was exciting to see lots of enthusiastic writing that included great word choice, transitions, elaboration, and details in informational writing . The clear routines and strong independence and stamina in the classrooms are certainly yielding great progress. These are some strategies that teachers are using to target different student writing needs. If you are finding some of the same needs to target, then use some of these suggestions:
The informational writing unit is layered because we are also concerned with research skills and close reading strategies. Therefore, individualized and choice writing can be challenging as we confer. Despite that challenge, it was great to see many of the classes differentiating in a true Writing Workshop environment, implementing individualized writing instruction, teaching the writer and not the writing. Welcome to my writing blog where I will share quick, easy, and useful resources for writing workshop and writing across the curriculum. Let's start with some lesson videos from Teachers College....these links include videos covering all lesson components with commentary. Conferring with students is the most important part of your writing workshop. It allows you to monitor student progress and help guide the writer. It is where the most effective instruction is taking place. Here are some helpful tips... https://drive.google.com/open?id=10OcYiFwQ3C-pmfrK30KxIKkvkPtzF8jYzra9MbP8upM |
AuthorJamie Saponaro, Instructional Strategies Consultant Archives
August 2015
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