Using Writing to Aid Comprehension

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Using Writing to Aid ReadingComprehension

Becky Groves, M.Ed.

University of Virginia


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The Writing Process

(as children see it)

Wait patiently

Wait for bolt of lightning to strike

Write wonderful paper

Have it picked apart by mean teacher


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Writing facilitates learning by helping

students explore, clarify, and think

deeply about the ideas and concepts theyencounter in reading.(Vacca & Vacca, 1999)


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What comes first...

Writing or Thinking??

Its recursive.


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Two Types of Curricular Writing

Expressive

Learning logs

Journals

Exit tickets

Ungraded Informal

Product

Essays

Test writing

Research papers

Graded Formal


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In-class reading: Unlearning to

Write

Before reading: What could this title mean? Make aprediction in your learning log (2 column notes).

During reading: See if your prediction was correct.Respond on the right side. Record new predictions whilereading.

After reading: Quick Writechoose a topic below: Do you see yourself as a writer? Why or why not?

What is one memory you have about writing? How do you use writing in your classroom?

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Framed Paragraphs

Help students to write well-formed paragraphs

Teacher provides a skeletal format including atopic sentence and transition words

Helpful in teaching students how to answer essay

questions (compare/contrast, sequence, etc.)

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Structure of Framed Paragraph

Topic sentencegeneral or opinion

statement

3-5 examples to develop the topic Transitions where needed

Summary sentence

Variety of sentence lengths/types

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Example of Completed Framed

Paragraph

Weather in Montana is erratic. For starters, it dependswhich side of the Continental Divide you live on. In thesummer, The east side of Montana is drier and warmer in

the summer than the west side. In the winter, westernMontana usually has warmer temperatures thandoes the eastern half of the state. Often times thereare substantial differences in temperature.Anadditional factor that influences the weather are the

clouds. The western side of the state often has heavycloud cover while the eastern side is sunny and clear. Itis hard to believethat weather can be so different.

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Template Frame

Essay question for a history test

Q: What problems did prairie farmers encounter and

what did they do to solve their problems?

A: Prairie farmers encountered a number ofproblems that made their life on the plains very

difficult. First ______. Another problem _____.

______ was a third challenge they had to face,

because ______. The farmers tried to solve theirproblems by _____. They also _____. Finally,

__________

Buehl p. 178 12


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Framed Paragraph with a

story

name , a character from the story___, seems to have

been ______ (adjective). An example of this was when

Another example Finally, This character, name,

always

Read aloud: The Princess and the Tin Box

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Another version of the framed paragraph:

The most important thing

1. The most important thing about ___ is

that ___.

2. Give 5 descriptions3. But the most important thing is _____.

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The important thing

about grass is that it is green.

It grows, and is tender,

with a sweet grassy smell.

But the important thing about grass

is that it is green.

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The important thing about democracy

is that people have a say.

There are rules.There is freedom.

There is voting.

But the important thing aboutdemocracy is that people have a say.

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The most important thing,example

The most important thing about middle school readers is

they are still perfecting the art. First of all, they can

decode the words on the page(1). Secondly, some can

visualize(2) and make connections(3). Also, they need apurpose and personal choice in their reading(4). Finally,

these students need lots of TLC(5). But the most

important thing about middle school readers is they

are still perfecting the art.

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RAFT Papers

R: Role of the writer

A:Audience for whom you are writing

F: Format of your letter

T: Topic + strong verb

plead, persuade, convince, clarify, etc.

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Example

R: Captain John Smith

A:People in England F:Trifold Brochure

T: Convince the English move to

Jamestown

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Example

R: researcher, wildlife ranger, animal,

conservation

A:public, friend, editor, company

F :letter, advertisement, article, news,

leading press release, research report

T: Pick a point of view and argue the threatto biodiversity

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Example

R: exclamation mark

A: teacher

F: letter T: Convince the teacher that you have an

important function and why he/she should

teach students about you.

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RAFT: Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill went up the hill

To fetch a pail of water

Jack fell down and broke his crownAnd Jill came tumbling after.

-Mother Goose

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Rewrite this story as

A medical report by the physician who examined them in the

emergency room

The report written by the investigator for Jills insurance company

The lead story on the evening news

An incident on All My Children or General Hospital

An article in the National Enquirer

Jacks What I Did on My Summer Vacation essay for his teacher

The babysitters excuse to Jills mother

A rap song Jills diary entry

A Dear Abbey column

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You Try It!

Come up with a

RAFT paperassignment that

you could use in

one of yourclasses.

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Writers Workshop

Daily mini-lesson

Conventions

Specifics of styles of writingWriting traits

Independent writing time

Students work at own pace throughassignments

Teacher/student conferences

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Entrance/Exit Tickets

Entrance tickets: give students a chance to

react to whats going on in class

Exit tickets: brings closure to learning;

could ask students to summarize,

synthesize, evaluate, or project (Vacca &

Vacca)


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Exit Ticket:

What role does writing

play in

comprehension?

Using Writing to Aid Comprehension

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