Category Archives: Language Arts
Writing Strategies for Young Writers
When working with young writers, keep your ideas simple and easy to remember. One of the best is making a chart and using their fingers to count off the steps in writing: rough draft, revision, write out or type, share, evaluation. Rough Draft: Encourage them to draw 8 simple pictures to show how their idea… Read More »
Metacognition and Reading
Reading in schools takes up more than 80% of the school day. Finding meaning in any text requires us to think about how we think.** We must once again use these four basic elements: Plan and Organize skim and preview tasks breakdown the parts decide how to proceed Self-Monitor check your progress troubleshoot problems ask… Read More »
An Extra Blog – Writing: Sharing and Evaluations
Writing is a year-long activity, but by now students should be involved in making and hearing evaluations of their and others work. It’s important to encourage student writers of all ages to share their work and take feedback from peers as well as adults. There are numerous ways to share written work. Formally the writing… Read More »
Student Writing – Vocabulary
It’s important to help students understand that thoughtful word choice makes their writing stronger and more clear. Create a mini lesson. Share samples of good and less successful writings. Ask students: Do the writer’s words describe the main characters so we can almost see them? Do the verbs show specific actions? (race instead of went… Read More »
Close Reading Part One
Close Reading is defined as thoughtful, critical analysis of a text to focus on and look at significant information to develop a deep, precise understanding. So, how do we engage students to encourage close reading? First, explain that some texts deserve extra considerations. That means we will read and reread them to uncover information. Our… Read More »
Vocabulary Development #5- Getting Organized
This month we’ll look at the importance of vocabulary. 1. Creating a graphic organizer is another way to meet students needs: Here is one example. 2. Copy the words in their story/book context and substitute words that relate to the students’ experiences/vocabulary. Look up and discuss how the substituted word(s) change the textual meaning… Read More »
Vocabulary Development #4- Words in Context
This month we’ll look at the importance of vocabulary. You can extend a vocabulary activity and ask students to write descriptive sentences and leave out their key word to challenge others to fill-in the missing word. It will challenge their abilities to think of the important details that lead others to the correct answer. Example:… Read More »
Vocabulary Development #3- Definitions
This month we’ll look at the importance of vocabulary. Dictionary and Thesaurus investigation adds to helping the words ‘stick’ in kids’ brains. Locating definitions, synonyms and antonyms makes a great partner activity. Ask students to write the definition(s) and add their frame of reference, their schema, to make the word relate to their lives in… Read More »
Vocabulary Development #2- Make it Visual
This month we’ll look at the importance of vocabulary. Vocabulary development creates a growing list and adding visuals (student drawings and images) may help students. So… Encourage students to update their vocabulary notebook and to add their own pictures to help them remember new words. Check out online resources for free images at Classroom Clipart,… Read More »