Writing Across the Curriculum
How students increase writing skills across the curriculum!
8th Grade ELA Narrative Writing
English Language Arts is obviously a subject area where students will practice writing on a regular basis. In 8th grade, I had the chance to visit 2 classrooms in the same day. Both classes were working on writing a narrative, however there were 2 different approaches that fit the different teaching styles of the teachers as well as the learning styles in the classroom.
Ms. Wooten:
Ms. Wooten:
- Modeled the narrative process by telling her own narrative story
- Completed the graphic organizer as an exemplar while telling her story
- Students got a "mental image" of the expectations of the lesson, and
- Were then able to apply their learning to creating their own independent story
Ms. Hammond:
- Students completed the graphic organizer in small groups
- Created a story in groups of 3 using Google Docs (first on paper)
- Tasks/roles assigned to each person in the group for clearly defined expectations
- Circulated to each group to formatively assess & provide support to each group
Write in ELA: Find Someone Who - for parts of speech review
Science write: Make a Prediction then Test Hypothesis
Science write part 2: Compare Prediction to Actual
In the video below, Ms. Jones guides students to describe, draw, & label scientific diagrams
Scientific Writing
Watch this video example of FHS high school students completing a self reflection that will guide instruction to improve their writing
"EdTech in 60 Seconds" @TeachLearnConnectFCS
SEA (Student Engaged Assessment) writing prompts
In Math, Ms. Tuell uses writing prompts as a way to debrief the lesson. The bulletin board above shows examples of the various prompts she uses with her students. This provides students an opportunity to write in math class. It also allows the student to communicate their learning and needs to the teacher, which helps guide future instruction.
Another way to encourage students to self assess their learning is with a learning target tracker. Below is an electronic version. Students self-assess where they are in meeting the day's learning target. There is an opportunity for written self reflection that provides additional information for the teacher.
Another way to encourage students to self assess their learning is with a learning target tracker. Below is an electronic version. Students self-assess where they are in meeting the day's learning target. There is an opportunity for written self reflection that provides additional information for the teacher.
Opinion writing in Civics and History
As 7th graders study the amendments in Coach Robbins class, they are presented with an opportunity to express their own opinion about whether a particular amendment is still important and needed today as it was when it was originally created. Two student samples are shown on the write, both stating their opinion and providing supporting details. In addition, the students were given the choice to write or type.
In Ms. Dennison's 7th & 8th grade Current Events course, they are participating in
In Ms. Dennison's 7th & 8th grade Current Events course, they are participating in
the Election Challenge. Students have been researching the election process, and which candidate is the most popular in each state. Students use data and resources from the Election Challenge site, which provides essential questions that promote discussion. Based on their research they then make predictions on whether each state will go republican or democrat. Their results are saved and after the election, will see how their predictions compare to actual state results. http://www.allstars.fanschool.org/election-challenge
The poster, above, is based on page 53 in the book, Questioning for Classroom Discussion, by Jackie Acree Walsh and Beth Dankert Sattes. Click here for a link to information about the book.
Florence Middle School
Email: jaedwards@florencek12.org
Website: www.florencek12.org/fms
Location: Florence Middle School, Florence, AL, United States
Phone: 256-768-3100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/florencemiddleschoolfalcons/
Twitter: @jillae0823