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Jacie Kendrew
Jul 14, 2011, 9:53:37 PM7/14/11
to embeddedliteracy2011
I am having trouble finishing my proposal and my planning for my
project. For some reason, I have been grappling with it this past
week. I am going to be teaching a literacy course in addition to my
math classes this year and I am free to do what I wish with it, as
long as it consists with reading and writing. My plan that I came up
with at the institute was to read 5 minute mysteries with the kids
(this is what the math teacher previously used). The previous teacher
pulled out vocabulary and had quizzes, and that was the extent of it.
My plan was to do some of this, but also talk about what goes into a
mystery, have the student write their own, and then have them pair up
and turn one into a digital story.
I am feeling overwhelmed and restricted by this. Overwhelmed, because
I feel like there are so many things that I can tlak about and so many
direcitons that I can go in. I switch groups (and levels of kids)
each quarter, so I would hav eabout 8 weeks of 40 minute classes. I
am also feeling restricted, because I don't know if I want to do
mysteries all year and limit myself and my kids to this one genre
(even though they will be exposed to other types of writing in other
literacy classes with other teachers throughout the year). A part of
me would rather exploring different forms of texts and writing and
really focus on providing the kids with reading strategies and ways to
close read.
I don't know...I just don't know if my heart is really into my
original project anymore, but I don't know how I would focus my work
if I took a different path...
Any suggestions??
Thanks!
project. For some reason, I have been grappling with it this past
week. I am going to be teaching a literacy course in addition to my
math classes this year and I am free to do what I wish with it, as
long as it consists with reading and writing. My plan that I came up
with at the institute was to read 5 minute mysteries with the kids
(this is what the math teacher previously used). The previous teacher
pulled out vocabulary and had quizzes, and that was the extent of it.
My plan was to do some of this, but also talk about what goes into a
mystery, have the student write their own, and then have them pair up
and turn one into a digital story.
I am feeling overwhelmed and restricted by this. Overwhelmed, because
I feel like there are so many things that I can tlak about and so many
direcitons that I can go in. I switch groups (and levels of kids)
each quarter, so I would hav eabout 8 weeks of 40 minute classes. I
am also feeling restricted, because I don't know if I want to do
mysteries all year and limit myself and my kids to this one genre
(even though they will be exposed to other types of writing in other
literacy classes with other teachers throughout the year). A part of
me would rather exploring different forms of texts and writing and
really focus on providing the kids with reading strategies and ways to
close read.
I don't know...I just don't know if my heart is really into my
original project anymore, but I don't know how I would focus my work
if I took a different path...
Any suggestions??
Thanks!
Jacie Kendrew
Jul 14, 2011, 10:50:27 PM7/14/11
to embeddedliteracy2011
Maybe I can pair my project down to focusing on one type of reading
once a week- like newspapers...? And then I can do other things the
other days...
once a week- like newspapers...? And then I can do other things the
other days...
Daisy Williams
Jul 15, 2011, 11:15:37 AM7/15/11
to embeddedliteracy2011
I too feel a bit overwhelmed by the scope of my project...all the
things I want to do... then the voice of reality nagging me!
Did you say you were broken up into quarters? What about having a
different theme each quarter or 8 week period or whatever the time
frame. This is the direction I think I am headed in. It's really hard
to narrow down topics. I'm thinking I'm going to start with reading
expository text - note taking in the margin, summarizing, etc, there
are about a million and one strategies! Then I'm going to focus on
writing, primarily using evidence to back up conclusions, for the
second part of the year.
Deciding that I didn't have to commit to one thing all year has really
helped me feel less stressed and more excited about the whole thing!
Good Luck,
Daisy
things I want to do... then the voice of reality nagging me!
Did you say you were broken up into quarters? What about having a
different theme each quarter or 8 week period or whatever the time
frame. This is the direction I think I am headed in. It's really hard
to narrow down topics. I'm thinking I'm going to start with reading
expository text - note taking in the margin, summarizing, etc, there
are about a million and one strategies! Then I'm going to focus on
writing, primarily using evidence to back up conclusions, for the
second part of the year.
Deciding that I didn't have to commit to one thing all year has really
helped me feel less stressed and more excited about the whole thing!
Good Luck,
Daisy
Pat Megivern
Jul 15, 2011, 11:55:40 AM7/15/11
to embeddedliteracy2011
Jacie,
I like the idea of 5-minute mysteries, but don't believe you'd enjoy
doing that every day for nine weeks, then starting over. If you go
with mysteries, maybe you could start with the 5-minute ones, then
delve into the genre of mystery and read some longer ones. You could
throw in a big of logic-problem stuff -- that's like mysteries --
too. And, I like the idea of creatively writing a mystery in video
form. Alternatively, you could use the little mysteries to mix it up.
I'm wondering if you might want to do a series of nonfiction-reading
strategies, and look at reading nonfiction of various kinds ...
extracting data from graphs, charts, etc. as well as text. You could
have the students get "clues" (facts) from pictures, video clips, etc.
And, of course, present information themselves in various ways. I'm
guessing here that the students will have plenty of "other
opportunities" for fictional reading and writing, so a nonfiction
strategies focus would benefit all. (And, I think mystery fiction
lends itself to nonfiction strategies, as they look for clues.) Your
math background would be a plus here, too.
Hope this helps.
Best,
Pat
I like the idea of 5-minute mysteries, but don't believe you'd enjoy
doing that every day for nine weeks, then starting over. If you go
with mysteries, maybe you could start with the 5-minute ones, then
delve into the genre of mystery and read some longer ones. You could
throw in a big of logic-problem stuff -- that's like mysteries --
too. And, I like the idea of creatively writing a mystery in video
form. Alternatively, you could use the little mysteries to mix it up.
I'm wondering if you might want to do a series of nonfiction-reading
strategies, and look at reading nonfiction of various kinds ...
extracting data from graphs, charts, etc. as well as text. You could
have the students get "clues" (facts) from pictures, video clips, etc.
And, of course, present information themselves in various ways. I'm
guessing here that the students will have plenty of "other
opportunities" for fictional reading and writing, so a nonfiction
strategies focus would benefit all. (And, I think mystery fiction
lends itself to nonfiction strategies, as they look for clues.) Your
math background would be a plus here, too.
Hope this helps.
Best,
Pat
Jacie Kendrew
Jul 15, 2011, 1:59:58 PM7/15/11
to embeddedliteracy2011
pat,
I really like that idea. Where would you suggest to look for texts?
Online...magazines...books? I could turn the final project into more
of a journalism writing project...hmm..great idea. thanks!
thanks daisy too! I like th idea of concentrating on strategie for
one type of writing at a time
, and trying to have. Clear focus.
Jacie
I really like that idea. Where would you suggest to look for texts?
Online...magazines...books? I could turn the final project into more
of a journalism writing project...hmm..great idea. thanks!
thanks daisy too! I like th idea of concentrating on strategie for
one type of writing at a time
, and trying to have. Clear focus.
Jacie
Cindy Brisson
Jul 15, 2011, 3:40:25 PM7/15/11
to embeddedliteracy2011
Jacie,
It is so often the case for me that I get to this point in the process
and find myself overwhelmed!
It is no fun.
At the same time, you raise some great questions.
The idea of mixing up the genres to read to the students might be more
fun.
You could stick with a general theme, problem-solving, and read
everything
from magazine articles, to poems.
I wish you the best with the new position.
Cindy
It is so often the case for me that I get to this point in the process
and find myself overwhelmed!
It is no fun.
At the same time, you raise some great questions.
The idea of mixing up the genres to read to the students might be more
fun.
You could stick with a general theme, problem-solving, and read
everything
from magazine articles, to poems.
I wish you the best with the new position.
Cindy
Cindy Brisson
Jul 15, 2011, 3:54:50 PM7/15/11
to embeddedliteracy2011
Jacie,
I was just reminded of another resource.
Have you ever read Flatland by Edwin A Abbott?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatland
I think I even saw an online version.
Even just a little bit of this, chapter one,
may peak students interest in the concept
of perspective.
I was just reminded of another resource.
Have you ever read Flatland by Edwin A Abbott?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatland
I think I even saw an online version.
Even just a little bit of this, chapter one,
may peak students interest in the concept
of perspective.
Pat Megivern
Jul 15, 2011, 5:38:26 PM7/15/11
to embeddedliteracy2011
Jacie,
You can find texts to use almost anywhere. The newspaper is a great
starting point, since you could pull all kinds of current things:
weather reports (also online) have such an amazing amount of
information, and little of it is actual "text". What about the sports
pages? I'm not really a fan, but it seems every sport has all kinds
of statistics, and I know from looking over kids' shoulders that the
team websites are filled with charts, graphs, etc. And even the basic
who-what-when etc. of short articles about anything can offer some
great reading and writing lessons.
CNN does a daily newscast for kids, 12 minutes long, I think. Some
days they have really interesting features (I happened to be doing a
current events unit with my 6th graders when Osama was found, and CNN
covered it from many angles. The kids were fascinated.) ... and
students could then look into and read about one of the news stories
in greater depth.
Editorial cartoons ... you could spend time reading, analyzing, and
creating some of these.
Find out if your school has a subscription to Vermont Online Library
-- full-text magazine and newspaper articles, along with lots of basic
reference material. It's nice to have some actual magazines to look
at, but the content is all there, many years' worth of archives ...
some in PDF format that looks like the original. Much can also be
listened to, so that helps if kids need help with reading. You can
search yourself and find something to share with everyone, or have the
students do the searching, then report out. maybe they could compare
reports on the same topic/event from different publications.
Websites and blogs ... organizations of all kinds have their own
regular news. NASA comes to mind -- it amazes me how much news there
is about space! - but I know that environmental groups, political
committees, etc. update their slant on the news regularly.
Random thought on this: could your students run a website/blog of
events and news about your school? They could use their journalistic
skills to write short news items (last nite's football game), features
(a profile of the beloved cafeteria lady), etc. ....
I think I've barely scratched the surface; and I hope this is
helpful. You could also ask your school librarian for ideas -- maybe
your school has some great stuff you can use.
Best,
Pat
You can find texts to use almost anywhere. The newspaper is a great
starting point, since you could pull all kinds of current things:
weather reports (also online) have such an amazing amount of
information, and little of it is actual "text". What about the sports
pages? I'm not really a fan, but it seems every sport has all kinds
of statistics, and I know from looking over kids' shoulders that the
team websites are filled with charts, graphs, etc. And even the basic
who-what-when etc. of short articles about anything can offer some
great reading and writing lessons.
CNN does a daily newscast for kids, 12 minutes long, I think. Some
days they have really interesting features (I happened to be doing a
current events unit with my 6th graders when Osama was found, and CNN
covered it from many angles. The kids were fascinated.) ... and
students could then look into and read about one of the news stories
in greater depth.
Editorial cartoons ... you could spend time reading, analyzing, and
creating some of these.
Find out if your school has a subscription to Vermont Online Library
-- full-text magazine and newspaper articles, along with lots of basic
reference material. It's nice to have some actual magazines to look
at, but the content is all there, many years' worth of archives ...
some in PDF format that looks like the original. Much can also be
listened to, so that helps if kids need help with reading. You can
search yourself and find something to share with everyone, or have the
students do the searching, then report out. maybe they could compare
reports on the same topic/event from different publications.
Websites and blogs ... organizations of all kinds have their own
regular news. NASA comes to mind -- it amazes me how much news there
is about space! - but I know that environmental groups, political
committees, etc. update their slant on the news regularly.
Random thought on this: could your students run a website/blog of
events and news about your school? They could use their journalistic
skills to write short news items (last nite's football game), features
(a profile of the beloved cafeteria lady), etc. ....
I think I've barely scratched the surface; and I hope this is
helpful. You could also ask your school librarian for ideas -- maybe
your school has some great stuff you can use.
Best,
Pat
Yeshua
Jul 16, 2011, 4:09:58 PM7/16/11
to embeddedliteracy2011
Hello Kacie,
I actually teach an extra class similar to what you do with 7th
grade. I am changing this year with a focus on current events. One day
a week each student will bring in a current event with a summary of
it. Then we will meet and discuss what is going on around the world.
Then they are getting some writing skills down and doing extra
reading! They can even submit the summaries for some of their book
write ups! Good luck and have fun with it!
I actually teach an extra class similar to what you do with 7th
grade. I am changing this year with a focus on current events. One day
a week each student will bring in a current event with a summary of
it. Then we will meet and discuss what is going on around the world.
Then they are getting some writing skills down and doing extra
reading! They can even submit the summaries for some of their book
write ups! Good luck and have fun with it!
Jocelyn Smith
Jul 21, 2011, 11:49:43 AM7/21/11
to embeddedliteracy2011
Hey Jacie,
I agree that 5-minute mysteries every day for 9-weeks, year-round
could get stale. However, if you broadened it to short stories you
could include a wider variety of stories (both fiction and non-fiction
narratives). I like the idea of having them then try to mimic this
sort of writing, as it would give them practice being concise and
trying to pack a lot of information into a small amount of text. I
think they would have a lot of fun with it.
If you decide to go with the non-fiction angle as Pat suggested, there
are great science resources out there (Scholastic) with short articles
and lots of text features to explore. There is also the creative non-
fiction genre which could be a blast. John McPhee writes some more
advanced pieces, but they have great detail and some gross-out factor
for the adolescent boys in your life.
Good luck!
Jocelyn
I agree that 5-minute mysteries every day for 9-weeks, year-round
could get stale. However, if you broadened it to short stories you
could include a wider variety of stories (both fiction and non-fiction
narratives). I like the idea of having them then try to mimic this
sort of writing, as it would give them practice being concise and
trying to pack a lot of information into a small amount of text. I
think they would have a lot of fun with it.
If you decide to go with the non-fiction angle as Pat suggested, there
are great science resources out there (Scholastic) with short articles
and lots of text features to explore. There is also the creative non-
fiction genre which could be a blast. John McPhee writes some more
advanced pieces, but they have great detail and some gross-out factor
for the adolescent boys in your life.
Good luck!
Jocelyn
Jacie Kendrew
Jul 26, 2011, 12:26:28 PM7/26/11
to embeddedliteracy2011
These resources are great! I mapped out my unit by strategies and
lessons, and I think that I am going to try to find some pieces now,
but wait and find others later - when I can find really current
articles and websites. I'm definitely more excited about this plan!
Thanks everyone!
> > Thanks!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
lessons, and I think that I am going to try to find some pieces now,
but wait and find others later - when I can find really current
articles and websites. I'm definitely more excited about this plan!
Thanks everyone!
>
> - Show quoted text -
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