Becoming Experts The Read Think Talk Write Cycle

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

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 9 th 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. ” Engage. NY. org 2

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. Engage. NY. org 3

Getting Started • Please see p. X in your participants’ notebook. Read Think “Essence” Engage. NY. org Write 4

Triads: Synthesize Your Thinking Essence #1 Combined Thinking = Write on Sticky Note Engage. NY. org 5

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. Engage. NY. org 6

Concept Mapping Sub Idea Central Idea Sub Idea Engage. NY. org 7

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. Engage. NY. org 8

Analyzing Lessons and Units Partner Materials Grade Level Lesson/Unit • Pair up with someone at your table. • Find the Module 4 lessons and unit overviews in their participants’ notebooks on pps. X-X. • Decide which grade level to analyze. • Decide which partner will analyze the unit overview and which will analyze a lesson plan. Engage. NY. org 9

Highlight Your Chosen Resource • Read • Think Pink Yellow Green Blue • Talk • Write Engage. NY. org 10

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 themes of this session? Engage. NY. org 11

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. Engage. NY. org 12