Reading for Writing: Modeling the Modern Essay

Teaching Strategies

Researched Based Strategies

Each teaching strategies used during the lesson is important to the lesson. Teachers have to use these strategies effectively and with fidelity. It will definitely take practice and practice for students to become successful in using these strategies independently. That is the goal of the students to become independent thinkers and writers. 

Graphic Organizers

Students will be writing a lot with collaboration. The first part of the writing activity involves building vocabulary. Students will use specific graphic organizers to build their vocabulary skills. As a part of the writing process, students will be writing and emblem the words they heard in a text to create personal narrative. The teacher will be reading during shared reading to introduce vocabulary.  This process is to have students learn that words they hear or read can become a part of their vocabulary development to use in their writing. The graphic organizers to help build vocabulary words and helps define their meaning are: Four corners, Cornell notes, and ABC List.

Cooperative Learning

Cooperative learning through the Kegan model or structure has been proven to be effective where students are accountable for self and others in learning academically and socially.[9] It provides a positive safe environment for students to become successful. Therefore, students will be involved in activities that involve students to group in whole group, small group and partners. Students will be giving many opportunities to talk to one another. Teachers will mostly be the facilitator during these times. It is important for students to interact and do the talking so the words learned will be internalized. Such activity involving cooperative learning are: Think, Pair, Share, and

Gradual Release Model (I do, We do, You do Model)

This model is considered a gradual release from modeling to independent practice. This strategy has been proven to be effective when delivering a lesson.

I Do is a phase where the teacher tells and shows (model) what students need to do and how they do things. This phase is important especially for students who are visual learners. It is the effective and efficient learning process for students to grasp what they should do and be able to do.

We do is next phase of the learning process. This is also an important phase where the teacher is involved with the students by doing things together. The teacher is a support and guides the students to ensure that he learning of the objectives is taking place.

You do is the last phase where the students will work independently and demonstrate the work they are assigned without the teacher’s help. This phase helps the teacher check for understanding and see if there needs to be a re-teaching.

The teacher will demonstrate modeling by reading passages, excerpts or chapter book.  During teacher reading, teacher will model reading fluency, use of context clues, and basically to try to make sense of a phrase in a passage. In addition, to model how to identify unfamiliar words and to learn them and begin to understand the meaning of words so that students can start using variety of words.

Visualization 

Students will look at photos or images and discuss or list key details form pictures or clips from a video. From each photos are clips, they will write a phrase or sentence about the images and the details. On the other hand, students can create a picture or images that have details.  These images will be used to have students explain, tell or write for clarity. They will use words in text and images suggested by their own minds while reading sentences of a text. This helps students to see images without having to struggle and is helpful, especially for younger elementary students. Visual aids also help students see the picture much more clearly so they have a better comprehension of the story.

Technology in the classroom

Use of Eno board (like a smart board) will be used to show other passages or images of a text. An Eno board is an interactive board that allows students and teachers to engage in the lesson. Use of Eno board will make learning visual for students. The documentary camera will be an additional tool to use when showing students how to complete graphic organizers. During the reading of passages or displaying images, there will discussion of the characters’ traits, point of view of the author, and identify words or phrased used to provide clarity.

Vocabulary Development

Vocabulary building is important when reading a text. Students often come across words that they have never heard of or unfamiliar.  During the reading of text, students and teacher with the gradual release model and graphic organizer will learn new words by learning the meaning first, then stem other words that can be similar or opposite. This will increase the students’ knowledge and comprehension of an unknown word.  This strategy will provide students to use other words to explain, tell or be more descriptive with words choices.

Vocabulary words from excerpts of Navajos wear Nike for students to learn and emblem in their writing. This process can be done with any books that are relevant. 

Guided Reading/Shared Reading

The third grade class at Tsaile Public School is not all at grade level. The teacher is able to read excerpts selected, or a chapter book during shared reading to reinforce reading and pick up on vocabulary. In addition, comprehending the meaning of the word, phrase, or text. This is to help students use reading strategies and become better readers without the frustration of reading. This strategy is where I will be reading for the students and modeling for them. Anchor charts will be used while reading to help with developing vocabulary and comprehension of a text.