According to new findings from the Teachers College Reading
and Writing Project at Columbia University, the best nonfiction writing occurs
when early-elementary research experiences are scaffolded as follows:
1. Organize and categorize
information
(a) based on personal experiences
(b) on a topic students care deeply
about
information
(a) based on personal experiences
(b) on a topic students care deeply
about
2. Organize, categorize, and
compare observations.
compare observations.
3. Conduct guided research.
4. Conduct cold research.
For Step 3, students write about a topic
the class is studying. This is a great chance to integrate ELA with your
science or social studies curriculum.
the class is studying. This is a great chance to integrate ELA with your
science or social studies curriculum.
At
the beginning of the unit, draw your class’s attention to a Wonder Wall that
you created on a classroom bulletin board. Let the children know that as they
study the topic, they will probably have lots of questions. Encourage students to record these questions on sticky notes and add them
to the Wonder Wall.
the beginning of the unit, draw your class’s attention to a Wonder Wall that
you created on a classroom bulletin board. Let the children know that as they
study the topic, they will probably have lots of questions. Encourage students to record these questions on sticky notes and add them
to the Wonder Wall.
If a question is answered during the remaining part of the unit, jot
the answer on another sticky note and place it next to the question. At the end
of the unit, invite students to choose one of the unanswered questions or
develop a new question. Working with the school librarian and a literacy coach,
guide the children in researching their questions independently and sharing their
findings with the class.
the answer on another sticky note and place it next to the question. At the end
of the unit, invite students to choose one of the unanswered questions or
develop a new question. Working with the school librarian and a literacy coach,
guide the children in researching their questions independently and sharing their
findings with the class.
Next week I’ll take Wednesday
off, so I can clean my house and go grocery shopping in preparation of for the
Thanksgiving festivities, but I’ll be back on November 30 to look at Step 4.
off, so I can clean my house and go grocery shopping in preparation of for the
Thanksgiving festivities, but I’ll be back on November 30 to look at Step 4.
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Topics
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