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Introduction to the

MAISA ELA Curriculum

Designed for MiELA MAISA Network Institute - 2015

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ON a Post-It note…

  • Write your name and grade level
  • Place it on one of the three sections of the poster

How familiar are you with the Workshop model of instruction?

Workshop is a new concept to me at the secondary level

I have experimented with it/ I have seen it used by others

I have had success with it in my own classroom

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Please sign in on the clipboard for SCECH verification and district use

ELA Teachers:

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Michelle Kemp

English Teacher at Muskegon High School

Annlyn McKenzie

English Consultant at Muskegon Career Tech Center

Welcome!

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Tuesday

Independent Reading &

Launching

Wednesday

Narrative Reading/Lit Essay &

Basics of Argumentation

Thursday

Informational Reading &

Argument

The Week’s Overview

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Please draw a compass rose in your notebook and find your compass points partners.

You’ll have a chance to discuss and/or work with these partners later on.

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Independent ReadingREADER’S CHOICE WORKSHOP (Week 4, 3 Weeks)

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Some teachers struggle with this unit

  • New/Affective elements:

  • Different instructional model
  • Text choice (how do we control that?!)
  • Teaching students how to choose books that suit them
  • Expecting student-set reading goals
  • Discussing one’s “reading identity”
  • Seeing value in contemporary lit

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~ from the Unit Abstract�WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT READING UNIT? p. 3�“…Students choose texts that match their interests and readability levels…"

August 30, 2009

By MOTOKO RICH

JONESBORO, Ga. — For years Lorrie McNeill loved teaching “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the Harper Lee classic that many Americans regard as a literary rite of passage.

But last fall, for the first time in 15 years, Ms. McNeill, 42, did not assign “Mockingbird” — or any novel. Instead she turned over all the decisions about which books to read to the students in her seventh- and eighth-grade English classes at Jonesboro Middle School in this south Atlanta suburb.

Among their choices: James Patterson‘s adrenaline-fueled “Maximum Ride” books, plenty of young-adult chick-lit on.

THE FUTURE OF READING

A New Assignment: Pick Books You Like

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������Nancie Atwell’s response to the backlash from the NYT article:

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WRite two Post-It notes

and pass them to the end

The book that hooked me on reading in my youth was…

any Harlequin romance

One of my favorite books as an adult is…

Pride and Prejudice

...so many to chose from

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Penny Kittle is an important voice for student choice in high school

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FIND YOUR WEST COMPASS PARTNER:

WHAT ARE SOME POINTS FROM THESE VIDEOS YOU AGREE WITH?

WHAT RESERVATIONS DO YOU HAVE ABOUT BOOK CHOICE?

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Kittle quotes Ann Patchett:

  • “I’m all for reading bad books because I consider them to be a gateway drug. People who read bad books now may or may not read better books in the future. People who read nothing now will read nothing in the future.”

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“We shouldn’t teach great books; we should teach a love of reading.” B.F. Skinner

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The maisa Independent Reading units offer students the chance to revisit essential reading skills each year (building stamina)

  • Developing the Identity of the Reader

  • Interacting with Texts and Self-Monitoring

  • Exploring Genre—

Elements and Structures

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6th

7th

8th

Developing the Identity of the Reader

* Engage in conversations about books.

* Utilize strategies to choose "just-right" books.

* Read with stamina and fluency.

* Engage a community of readers through sharing, critique, analysis, and recommendations.

* Select just the right book after determining reading needs, interests, purposes and goals.

* Engage in conversations and continue to create a community of readers through sharing, critiquing, and analyzing while making recommendations to others.

* Select “just-right” book based on reading needs, interests, purposes, and goals.

* Apply learning from unit to make decisions about next book choice.

Interacting with Texts and Self-

Monitoring

* Make connections with the characters.

* Infer characters' attributes and motivations.

* Remain focused while reading.

* Utilize selected reading tools, graphic organizers, and conversation to identify central ideas and character attributes.

* Track the interacting and distracting voice, while making personal connections to the text.

* Make connections about problems using character conflicts (internal/external), what characters say and do, character thoughts, and their reactions to other characters.

* Connect with the main characters by forming opinions about various characters’ points of views.

* Analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone.

* Analyze character conflicts by citing literal information and evaluating dialogue related to conflicts.

Exploring Genre—

Elements and Structures

* Identify that stories are created through scenes and narration.

* Identify the rising tension in the story.

* Revise and refine thinking about characters.

* Notice and connect recurring images or ideas that may point toward the theme.

* Identify scenes as the building blocks of the story, depicting action and conversations.

* Identify the purpose of narration throughout the story.

* Track causes of rising tension across the plotline.

* Reflect on the text as a whole and provide a well-thought-out critique, using the information gathered during the reading process.

* Analyze how scenes and narration contribute to the rising and falling tension of the story.

* Identify the theme of the story.

* Use all the information gathered during the reading process to analyze the work as a whole and provide a well-thought-out critique.

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9th Grade

10th Grade

11th Grade

12th Grade

Genre

Fiction

Autobiography, Biography, Memoir

Creative Nonfiction

Multi-genre

Developing the Identity of the Reader

* Set goals for reading.

* Use strategies to find a “just-right” book.

* Engage in discussion with other readers.

* Develop preferences for texts and authors through exploration of various fictional works.

* Set goals for reading stamina and fluency.

* Use strategies to find a “just-right” book.

* Engage in discussion with other readers.

* Develop preferences for texts and authors through personal study and discussion with peers.

* Set goals to explore unfamiliar nonfiction genres.

* Use strategies to find a “just-right” book.

* Engage in discussion with other readers.

* Develop preferences for texts and authors through personal study and discussion with peers.

· Set goals to read and explore unfamiliar genres.

· Use strategies to find a “just-right” book and related texts.

· Engage in discussion with other readers

· Develop preferences for texts and authors through personal study and discussion with peers.

Interacting with Texts and Self-

Monitoring

* Develop fluency by connecting to characters and the narrative voice.

* Develop theories about author’s purpose and identify central idea

* Make connections to text, in order to evaluate the actions and emotions of the characters and narrator as they face conflicts.

* Develop fluency by connecting to the narrative voice

* Develop theories about author’s purpose and identify central idea.

* Make connections to text, in order to evaluate the author’s insights.

* Develop fluency by connecting to the style and structure of the text.

* Develop theories about author’s purpose and identify central idea.

* Make connections to text, in order to evaluate the insights and claims the author reveals across the text.

* Make cross-text connections.

* Synthesize thinking across multiple texts and multiple genres.

* Evaluate the author’s insights.

Exploring Genre—

Elements and Structures

* Analyze, through examination of internal and external events, how complex characters develop.

* Analyze, through examination of conflicts and character choices, how complex characters advance the plot.

* Analyze, by tracking and confirming theories about the novel’s central idea, how complex characters establish theme.

* Analyze the genre via the reading experience.

* Examine conflicts and character choices, in order to analyze the implications of how complex characters advance the plot.

* Analyze, by tracking and confirming theories about the novel’s central idea, how complex characters establish theme.

* Analyze the genre via the reading experience

* Analyze how different types of evidence support the central idea, claims, and insights expressed by the author.

* Analyze how the author establishes and connects insights, in order to influence a reader.

* Analyze the counterclaims the author introduces to influence a reader.

* Analyze the genre via the reading experience

* Analyze how the same theme is expressed in multiple genres.

* Analyze how different authors establish and connect insights to influence readers.

* Analyze the differing claims the authors introduce to influence readers.

* Analyze the genres via the reading experience.

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MAISA Unit 2: Independent Reading 4 weeks - is that enough?

Monday

Bellwork 5

Booktalk 10

Reading ML 10

READ 30

Share 5

Tuesday

Bellwork 5

READ 15

MAISA unit ML 10

Unit work 25

Share 5

Wednesday

Bellwork 5

READ 15

MAISA unit ML 10

Unit work 25

Share 5

We propose a year-long approach ~

Balancing Reading Workshop with the MAISA Units

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Turn to the Unit Abstract for Independent Reading

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����~ from the Unit Abstract�WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT READING UNIT? p. 3“This requires teachers keep mini-lessons and conferring to an absolute minimum (partially agree).” ��

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Mini Lessons= brief, intense learning

(* See mini lesson template)

  • Bring students “to the rug” for direct instruction for 7-10 minutes

  • Keep your instruction focused on one specific task, provide necessary information, and model the task

  • Engage students briefly (turn and talk, short practice)

  • Students return to their seats to practice the skill, look for the element in their reading, attempt the writing technique in their own work, etc.
                • Come to the rug for a mini lesson!

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In conferences that monitor a reading life, you might ask

  • What are you reading?
  • how did you choose it?
  • What’s on your to-read-next list?
  • How much did you read last night?

Types of Reading Conferences

Kittle pp 77-96

In conferences that reinforce a mini-lesson, ask

  • what’s one theme you see developing in the book?
  • tell me about the narrative voice
  • how would you describe the main character?
  • can you relate to your character’s internal conflict?

In conferences that increase complexity and challenge, ask

  • What other books have you read by this author and how do they compare?
  • why do you like this genre?
  • Are you ready to try something harder?
  • What did you learn about yourself as a reader from this book?

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~ from the Unit Abstract�WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT READING UNIT? p. 3“The primary focus…is the growth students make as readers, which shifts focus away from content (I disagree).

  • Traditional instruction AND choice/Reading Workshop teach
  • Literary terms
  • Figurative language
  • Inference
  • Textual evidence
  • Literary analysis
  • Genres
  • Summary writing
  • Research
  • Comparison

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Reading/Writing Notebooks are an important tool in the Workshop model

Multiple Uses --

  • Book logs
  • Record of new skills
  • Literary term glossaries
  • Sentence emulation
  • WRiting drafts
  • Reading notes
  • Quotations and mentor texts

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To begin a Reader’s Notebook

  • Establish reading rate & assign HW expectation (27)
    • Find an interesting book
    • Read for 10 minutes; record the # of pages read
    • x 6 for an hourly rate;
    • x 2 = the # of pages a student should read outside of class each week (2 hrs of homework)

  • Accept every reader wherever he/she is
    • Knowing an approximate lexile level is helpful
    • Provide books that ignite a motivation to read

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~ from the Unit Abstract�WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT READING UNIT? p. 3�“... preservation of uninterrupted reading time during class periods is essential (I agree) 15-35 min/day

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My classroom at Muskegon High School

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Plus kids...

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�~ from UNIT ORGANIZATION p. 4�The primary purpose of this unit is for students to read a significant number of pages in and out of school daily.”�

Vertical alignment extends from grade 6 with the expectation that students understand the repertoire of decisions taught in previous grades

>> Refer to the

Learning Progressions

as needed.

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Hold kids accountable for # of pages read!

Student name

Book Title

Mon

Tues

Wed

Thurs

Fri

Wk Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

READING RECORD hr:

~~ Each day, record the page number you are currently reading ~~

We must understand that reading at grade level in big gulps of hundreds of pages makes the hard reading possible. Penny Kittle

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  • Ideas for beginning your own library:
  • * FB, friend, relative requests
  • * buying 2nd hand
  • * Donors Choose

<www.donorschoose.org>

  • * yard sales, rummage sales, etc.

~ from TEACHER DECISIONS FOR UNIT IMPLEMENTATION p. 4“…Teachers are encouraged to gather their own classroom library that reflects a range of reading levels and student interests…”

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Classroom Libraries - Kids LOVE them!

Here’s a dizzying look at a typical

6th grade classroom and library: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUfgV-Lgc4U

  • Courtesy of Michelle Renna at Fruitport Middle School

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Annlyn’s library

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Michelle’s Library

View 1

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Find your NORTH partner:

  • What are your thoughts about implementing Reader’s Workshop in your classroom?
  • What help would you need to get started?

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Generate interest in books by making a habit of doing book talks:

Do your own book talks...

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Workshop Room Design

On a sheet of paper, sketch out a plan of how you could arrange your room to accommodate the Workshop Model of Instruction.

�Consider where you might place

  • a gathering area (mini lesson instruction)
  • student work tables
  • a reading area
  • a library

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The Teaching Sessions in Independent Units

  • A session can easily last more than one day.

  • Break a session into multiple mini-lessons (usually by Teaching Point).

  • You might add sessions/mini-lessons to the unit if your students need additional instruction.

  • During reading time, it is essential that you roam and confer with students (see Kittle and Tovani)

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Theme lessons

Day 1: What is a literary theme?

  • Watch first half of Mistersato video.
  • Record in Glossary (back of writer's notebook) the definition of theme.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4qME64SkxM

LINK: Today as you read, think about the subject of your current book.

SHARE: Round robin sharing of subjects.

Day 2: Discerning Theme

  • Watch end of Mistersato video.
  • Record in notebook the four recommendations for discerning theme (teachable moment -- what does "discern" mean?).

LINK: Today as you read, try to figure out what opinion (theme) the author is expressing

SHARE/Exit slip: write "I think one theme of my book is that ____ because ____" (refer to one of Mr. Sato’s 4 ways of discerning theme).

Day 3: Practice with a Poem

  • As a class, work through a poem that has a fairly obvious theme.
  • Discuss and arrive at the poem's theme.

LINK: Go back to one of the poems you’ve written in your Writer’s NB: next to it, jot down a possible theme.

SHARE: Write your theme on a sticky and place it on the appropriate grid of the poster on your way out: life lessons, love, growing up, conflicts, misc to be sorted.

Day 4: Theme Skits

  • Groups of 4 draw a theme out of the hat.
  • They have the hour to think of a plot to express that theme
  • Groups write a script and give it a quick practice.

Day 5: Skit Presentations

  • Present skits
  • The class has a recording sheet: they guess the theme after the skit
  • the performing group leads a discussion about their skit and the theme.
  • Audience rates the group on how well their skit portrayed the theme.

Day 6: Formative assessment:

  • Students read/annotate Gate A-4 and answer a few questions to stimulate thinking
  • Craft a statement of theme about the story.

Day 7+: Summative Assessment

  • Students brainstorm and compose college application essays: describe a significant event in your life and discuss its influence on you (see Common App). Do NOT begin with essay “blather;” start with a narrative of ONE event in your life.
  • A clear theme must be evident in the narrative section of this essay
  • Use “Gate A-4” as a model for starting a narrative.

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Teaching Point 1.1: Readers acknowledge who they are as readers and as part of a reading community. They set goals for their reading.

  • 1. Teacher Model:
    • Show Jessica Wise’s TED TALK
    • Share personal examples:
        • how a particular book changed your views

        • describe your own preferences

        • what don’t you read?

        • what do you want to read? -- model setting a goal

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Teaching Point 1.1 Continued…

  • 2. Active engagement: partner discussion
    • Reading identity
    • Possible goals
  • 3. Independent Practice
    • Pre-unit performance task

Teaching Points 1.2 and 2.1

Teaching Points 3.1 and 3.2

Teaching Point 4

Teaching Points 5.1, 5.2, 5.3

Teaching Point 6

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Summative Assessment

  • The Unit’s Assessment

Write a reflective essay:

  • How does having a reading life change my life?
  • How have my experiences in this unit changed the way I see a topic or ideas or the world?
  • Share your essay with a partner or the class.
  • My Assessment

Create a Prezi:

  • Conduct research on an topic of interest from one novel
  • Teach yourself how to use Google Slides
  • Create a presentation that presents information from research, from your novel, and evaluates how well the author developed the topic in the book.
  • Present to small groups.

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We did independent reading all semester, so the Prezi presentation was part of the final exam

Sample topics:

  • Gang membership
  • Child abduction
  • Poverty
  • Prenuptial agreements
  • One child policy
  • Wicca
  • Romantic attraction
  • Self mutilation
  • The Civil Rights Movement
  • Teen suicide

This is not exam behavior!

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