Читать книгу The California ELD Standards Companion, Grades 3-5 - Jim Burke - Страница 37

What the Teacher Does

At least one hour a day should be devoted to writing in Grade 3, according to a panel of experts that examined the research on effective writing instruction (Graham, and others, 2012). Students are provided systematic instruction in the techniques, strategies, and skills of writing for about half of the time; the other half occurs as students write throughout the day in multiple contexts and content areas (including history/social science, science, visual and performing arts, mathematics, health). The call for an integrated curriculum is realized in part when students write in each content area to record, convey, and discover their understandings.

Students in Grade 3 continue to write for a variety of purposes: to express opinions, share information, or provide explanations, and to tell real or imagined stories. More attention is given to organization and detail than in previous grade levels. Teachers provide models in the form of mentor and original texts and thoughtful instruction and guidance.

 Just as students in this grade span are expected to have more frequent and sophisticated academic conversations, so are they expected to practice their writing with ample time allotted across content areas. ELLs in particular need scaffolded writing experiences whereby they are explicitly taught the purpose, organizational structure, and linguistic features associated with the genres of writing expected. One way to do this is by modeling the writing process through joint construction, which includes writing with students (see Vignette 5.1). Teachers explicitly teach this by using model texts, which mirror the genre or text type that students will be expected to write. Students can highlight the linguistic features (e.g., transitional words) associated with that genre of writing. Additionally, before independent writing, teachers can begin a discussion regarding how to best begin a writing piece and chart student responses. Then, as a class they can revise the writing piece together.