Reading and Writing as Learning Tools
Features of Content-Area Textbooks
Content-Area Textbook Comprehension
Taking Notes and Studying Effectively
Focus on Big Ideas: Content-Area Units
100
This is a learning tool that is designed to activate prior knowledge for the subject you are discussing. The title stands for: K = Knows , W= Want to know, and L = Learned.
What is a KWL Chart?
100
This is a title at the top of a page or section of a book that is used to direct readers' attention to the big ideas.
Heading
100
This is a preparation activity that teachers use to activate students’ prior knowledge and expand their understanding about a topic before reading. Teachers present students with a list of words, and students identify words on the list that they think relate to the topic as well as those that do not belong.
What is Exclusion Brainstorming?
100
This allows students to record their responses to text as they read. In the left-hand page or column, the student copies or summarizes text which is intriguing, puzzling, or moving, or which connects to a previous entry or situation. In the right-hand page or column, the student reacts to the quotation or summary.
What is a Double-Entry Journal?
100
This is an organized collection of words displayed in large letters on a wall or other large display place in the classroom. It is a tool designed to promote group learning.
What is a Word Wall?
200
This is a personalized learning resource for children. In these logs, the children record their responses to learning challenges set by their teachers.
What is a Learning Log?
200
These are small notes that provide supplemental information or direct readers to additional information about a topic. They are often located on the side of an article.
What are Margin Notes?
200
This is the step of the reading process includes K.W.L. charts, text set of books, websites, videos, anticipation guides, and exclusion brainstorming.
What is Stage 1: Pre-Reading?
200
This is a relationship that helps students realize that the answers they seek are related to the type of question that is asked; it encourages them to be strategic about their search for answers based on an awareness of what different types of questions look for.
What are Question-Answer Relationships?
200
This is a way of organizing curriculum around particular topical areas of exploration or themes. A variety of traditional subject areas - such as mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies use these to teach large concepts.
What is a Thematic Unit?
300
This is an activity that involves a one-to-two sentence writing prompt. It's meant to spark thoughts for a brief written response.
What is Quick Writing?
300
This is an alphabetical list of names, subjects, etc., with references to the places where they occur. It's typically found at the end of a book.
What is an Index?
300
What is the process called when students and their educator ask questions and talk about each big idea as they read the chapter?
Reciprocal Questioning
300
This study strategy asks the learner to Survey the chapter, Question what you are learning, Read, Recite, and Review what was learned.
What is the SQ3R Study Strategy?
300
This is the ability to speak, read and/or write in English. To be considered truly proficient, one should have advanced abilities in all three areas of communication.
What is English Language Proficiency?
400
This is part of Writers' Workshop and provides a short (5- to 10- minute), structured lesson on a topic related to writing. Topics are selected by the teacher and based on student need or curricular areas.
What is a Mini Lesson?
400
This is an alphabetical list of terms or words found in or relating to a specific subject, text, or dialect, with explanations. This is also considered to be a brief dictionary.
What is a Glossary?
400
This is a guide that is made by the educator in order to introduce a set of statements based on the topic of the chapter. Students agree or disagree with each statement and they read the assignment to see if they were correct.
What is an Anticipation Guide?
400
This type of writing is used in teaching the early phases of writing, primarily with students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grade levels 1 and 2. During this writing, the teacher and student share the pen, writing to each to each other in letters, dialog journals or using a message board.
What is Interactive Writing?
400
This is when teachers address the challenges facing English learners as they adjust the lessons to maximize students' learning.
What is Adjusting Instruction?
500
This is a group of like-minded writers needing support for their work, either through writing peer critiques, workshops or classes, or just encouragement.
What are Writing Groups?
500
This is a book used as a standard work for the study of a particular subject.
What is a Content-Area Textbook?
500
Which stage involves expanding students' knowledge about the topic, personalizing students' learning, and expecting students to share their knowledge?
Stage 5: Applying
500
This analysis uses a grid to help you explore how a set of things are related to one another. By analyzing the grid the students are able to able to see connections, make predictions and master important concepts.
What is Semantic Feature Analysis?
500
English learners are often unfamiliar with this because these words aren't used in everyday conversation. Examples are: photosynthesis, scavenger, and democracy. There are no cognates in their native language, so educators must help them understand and retain these English terms.
What is Vocabulary?
M
e
n
u