Content Area Connections (6-8)

Experienced with NTI Teachers/ Coaches

Session 5A

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Welcome

Learning Targets

• I can describe the impact on middle school students of developing literacy skills across the day.

• I can describe efficient and effective methods of connecting the 6-8 ELA curriculum to other content areas.

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Read excerpt

• Locate Hold Your Thinking document on p.X

• “Shared Responsibility for Students’ Literacy Development”

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Introductions

• Introduce yourself to a partner and share some thoughts based on the questions you answered.

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Bottom Line: Shared Responsibility for Literacy

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Document Orientation

• Locate the following resources: Curriculum Maps for Grades 6, 7, and 8,

pps. 111-171 The K-8 Social Studies Framework, pps.

172-222 Concept Connections: Social Studies

Framework and ELA Curriculum Map, p. 223

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Working the Resources

• Step 1: Form triads. Each member of the triad will be looking at one grade level (grade 6, 7 or 8).

• Step 2: Using all the documents, follow the sequence of questions embedded in the Concept Connections: Social Studies Framework and ELA Curriculum Map document.

• Step 3: Work independently to look through the documents and answer the questions. (20 minutes)

• Step 4: Have a conversation as a triad and take notes in the space provided. (15 minutes)

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Connecting and Questioning

• What connections or questions related to your triad’s work would you like to lift up to the whole group?

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Protocols to Enhance Learning

• You will observe two content area lessons.

• As you watch the videos, consider how using protocols and engagement strategies enhances learning in these classrooms.

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Video

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Video

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Discuss

• Turn and talk about how using protocols across the day might be beneficial to students.

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Assessment for Learning

• Locate the document: Checking For Understanding Key Assessment for Learning Techniques, p. 226

• Within this document, find and read the following sections: “Use Cold Call” “Use No Opt Out”

• Talk at your tables about these techniques. What are the benefits? Are there drawbacks?

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BREAK

• Enjoy your fifteen minute break!

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“Quick Checks” Throughout the Day

• Return to Checking For Understanding Key Assessment for Learning Techniques.

• Within this document, find and look through: “Quick Check Tools and Protocols”

• As you scan through them, consider: What connections can you make to uses of

these practices throughout the student day? How about across content areas? What are the benefits of this?

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Let’s Practice

• I can describe the impact on middle school students of developing literacy skills across the day.

• I can describe efficient and effective methods of connecting the 6-8 ELA curriculum to other content areas.

• I feel comfortable having conversations with other content area teachers about supporting students’ literacy development through out the day (think back to the excerpt that we read at the start of the session).

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Content Area Modules

• Locate the two content area modules, (Social Studies starts on p. 229 and science on p. 247.

• Created by Expeditionary Learning, these modules “live” on the achievethecore.org webpage. (go to “Lessons” then scroll to “Social Studies” and “Science.” Scroll to “units.”

• Select one of the modules that interests you: MS Social Studies: Civil Rights MS Science : Water is Life

• Look through this module and annotate for connections that you can make between your work in ELA and this module. (10 minutes)

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Pair-Share

• Find a partner who read a different module than you and share your thoughts and connections. (5 minutes)

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Literacy in the Content Area

• You will observe a Science classroom.

• This is a 6th grade classroom where there is a focus on vocabulary instruction.

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Video

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Discuss

• In split table groups, talk about the series of videos that you have seen in the session. How might these videos help you have

conversations with colleagues?

• These and many more videos are available on Expeditionary Learning’s website (www.elschools.org).

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Action Plan

• Locate and work on your Action Plan on p. 82.• As you work on your plan, consider:

What conversations might you need to have with specific colleagues?

What meetings might you need to schedule? Are there resources from this session that you

need to read a little more closely? Are there items that you want to share with

colleagues?• Feel free to work with a partner or school group.

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Closure

• Think about your answer to this prompt: I used to think _____________ about

supporting students’ literacy development across the day, and now I think ___________.

• When you are finished, turn and share your answer with a partner.

• Reminder: Use your Action Plan to guide your work back in-district.

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