Why Pair Discourse With Writing
What is the full range of literacy practices?
Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, and Thinking
What does oral language consist of?
Phonology, grammar, morphology, vocabulary, discourse, and pragmatics.
What are the four major purposes for writing?
Expressive writing, informative writing, persuasive writing, and literary work
What is one of the five reasons writing is so important that we ask students to write in all subject areas?
Reason #1: Written output is a great way to assess student knowledge.
Reason #2: Writing is the essential skill students need as they enter adult life.
Reason #3: Helping students learn to express themselves with confidence in all subject areas can contribute to improvements in behavior and self-esteem.
Reason #4: Students who write clearly, think clearly. And students who think clearly have a better chance of navigating their way through the obstacles of adolescence.
Reason #5: Writing is power.
What Are Literature Circles?
Literature Circles are small groups of students who gather together to discuss and collaborate about a piece of literature in depth. Literature circles provide ways for students to engage in critical thinking and reflection as they read, discuss, and respond to books.
What are the two main reasons discourse and writing should be taught in all subject areas?
1. By discussing and writing about the curriculum, students are thinking about the content with a depth and clarity that is difficult to achieve otherwise.
2. Learning to write pays dividends throughout life. Speaking, listening, and writing skills are the key to success in most 21st century careers.
What is the broad definition of Phonology?
The organization or system of sounds within a language. The awareness of words in sentences or syllables in words, including rhyme, alliteration, onset rime (word families), blending, segmenting, and manipulating sounds.
How is an informative writing used?
Informative writing is used to educate or explain something to the audience. This type of writing is clear, accurate, organized, thorough, and above all fair.
Essays, Research papers, and presentations
Why is writing one of the essential skill students need as they enter adult life?
(Quoted directly from the article, the answer may sound like this)
"Writing is output. It clears up confusion and cleans out clutter. It allows students to put their ideas on a page and leave them there to be sorted out with proper deliberation. By teaching students how to write well, by showing them how to focus their intellectual energy in this unique and wonderful way, we give them a key that helps them unlock the complicated ideas and complex emotions we expect them to master as they mature. When we discourage students from writing, either by teaching them poorly or by reducing instruction time, we rob them of one of the best tools they will ever have for making sense of their education and of their lives." (pg 4)
Literature circles are not...
(full points if the student can name at least two)
| -Teacher and text centered -The entire reading curriculum -Teacher assigned groups assigned solely on ability -Unstructured, uncontrolled "talk time" without accountability -Guided primarily by teacher- or curriculum-based questions -Intended as a place to do skills work -Tied to a prescriptive "recipe" |