EngageNY.org Becoming Experts: The Read, Think, Talk, Write Cycle Session 4, May 2014 NTI

EngageNY.org2 Good Morning! Please greet your tablemates, making sure to share your name and position/role back at home. Discuss the following anecdote: Last fall, I was visiting an area high school and ran into one of my former middle school students, now a 9th grader. Of course, I asked her about her writing. “Well,” she said, “I just had to write a history paper that was hard. At first I couldn't really do it.” My heart sank. “Why not?” I asked her. “What didn't you know how to do?” “Oh, I knew how,” she replied without hesitation. “I just didn't know enough. I didn't understand the stuff. So I had to do that first. Then I could write it OK.”

Learning Target for this Session I can describe the importance of deep and thorough reading, critical thinking, and purposeful academic discourse as the basis for quality writing. EngageNY.org3

Getting Started Please see p. X in your participants’ notebook. EngageNY.org4 Read Think “Essence” Write

Triads: Synthesize Your Thinking EngageNY.org5 Combined Thinking = Write on Sticky Note Essence #1

While Viewing Use additional sticky notes to keep track of key ideas. Go for short = 1 or 2 words. Write one key idea per sticky note. It would be good if each person ended up with a small pile of 8-10 words/notes. EngageNY.org6

Concept Mapping Central Idea Sub Idea Sub Idea EngageNY.org7

Quick Write A technique frequently used in the modules to help students “capture thinking.” In your Participants’Journal, p X, take 5 minutes to write about the important ideas you’re thinking as a result of this session so far. EngageNY.org8

Analyzing Lessons and Units Partner Pair up with someone at your table. Materials Find the Module 4 lessons and unit overviews in their participants’ notebooks on pps. X-X. Grade Level Decide which grade level to analyze. Lesson/Unit Decide which partner will analyze the unit overview and which will analyze a lesson plan. EngageNY.org9

Highlight Your Chosen Resource WriteTalk ThinkRead PinkYellow BlueGreen EngageNY.org10

Discuss Are all parts of the read, think, talk, write cycle present in your chosen unit plan or lesson plan? If not, why? What are the implications of eliminating any of these steps? Could steps be streamlined rather than eliminated? In what ways could these steps by adapted to meet the needs of all learners? If you have actually taught a module, please discuss what you have noticed about the quality of your students’ writing. How does that connect to the themes of this session? EngageNY.org11

Journal Please use p. X in your Participants’ Notebook to capture takeaways from this session. Enjoy a short break. The next session begins at 10:45. EngageNY.org12