We are finishing up our unit on reading and writing an opinion statement. We began the unit with an Accountable Talk lesson in which students learned to participate in class discussion. We noticed that some students need to work on talking more, but many others need to work on listening more. We are applying these skills to our reading and writing lessons.
The main focus of the past three weeks has been reading, summarizing, and analyzing position papers. We found that the students are really good at summarizing, but the analyzing proved to be more difficult. Students learned critical reading and thinking skills by identifying the thesis, claims, and evidence in articles on opposing sides of a controversial issue. This week students really stretched their mind as they were asked to form their own opinions and write an essay based on their own opinion with their own claims and supporting evidence. We used Accountable Talk discussion, a graphic organizer, and the ACES outline to help them plan their essays.
Students should have turned in their ACES outline yesterday and their final essay is to be turned in, submitted through Google Classroom, by Wednesday, Feb. 18. The assignment, rubric, and supporting documents are all in Google Classroom. It would be great if a parent or older sibling could read the students’ essays before they turn in their final copy.
Ms. Grinnell and I are looking forward to starting a Reader’s Workshop in our classes next week. Students will be choosing a biography, autobiography, or memoir, and we will be reading and setting goals for improving their reading skills. This is a much more individualized form of instruction than they are accustomed to and we think the students will enjoy it. More about this next week!
Thanks so much for you support of our students. Please email me if you have questions.
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