WE LOVE… Content Specific Writing Feb. 11, 2015

We know what it is! Right? Here are some examples from the NCDPI website to look at together for 4 th grade. testing/writing/writingtasks

Why is it Important? Research has proven that teacher integration of literacy-related instructional strategies facilitates student learning across all content area. This includes writing Classroom Instruction That Works by Robert Marzano, Debra Pickering, and Jane Pollock. Three of the 9 strategies involve writing-1,2, and 9. Here is a refresher of those 9: 1. Identifying similarities and differences 2. Summarizing and note taking 3. Reinforcing effort and providing recognition 4. Homework and practice 5. Nonlinguistic representations 6. Cooperative learning 7. Setting objectives and providing feedback 8. Generating and testing hypotheses 9. Cues, questions, and advance organizers

Just a bit about Summarizing 2. Summarizing and Note Taking These skills promote greater comprehension by asking students to analyze a subject to expose what’s essential and then put it in their own words. According to research, this requires substituting, deleting, and keeping some things and having an awareness of the basic structure of the information presented. Applications: Provide a set of rules for creating a summary. When summarizing, ask students to question what is unclear, clarify those questions, and then predict what will happen next in the text. Research shows that taking more notes is better than fewer notes, though verbatim note taking is ineffective because it does not allow time to process the information. Teachers should encourage and give time for review and revision of notes; notes can be the best study guides for tests. Applications: Use teacher-prepared notes. Stick to a consistent format for notes, although students can refine the notes as necessary

Some examples “Dear Human Body Corporation” –Ms. Robertson “My Life as a Raindrop” “Text Me” “The Lord of the Cell” Journal everything (It goes on and on…) GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS!

Body Systems Body Systems Connections Name _____________________ Choose 2 of 5 possible questions to answer fully in a researched response. Use your laptop/internet/notes/study guides to help you with your response so evidence is cited. Must have written 3 paragraphs each question, so plan out what each paragraph will talk about to prove your point. Use the attached rubric to guide your thoughts in your response. Choose 2 of the following questions: A.The circulatory system works closely with which system? What do they do for the body? Why do they need each other? B.The nervous system is mostly closely tied with which system in your opinion? How are they connected? Would the body survive without this relationship? C.How does the muscular system utilize cells and cell tissue? Why are they important to the system? How do they help you work? D.Which system do you feel is the most complex? Why do you feel it is so complicated? How does it help you in a typical day? E.What do you feel is the most important organ in the body? What systems does this organ work with the most? What would happen without this organ?

Letter The Human Body Corporation Activity Description: As a body organ, you are an employee of the Human Body Corporation. Due to recent cost increases, the Human Body has to fire workers. You need to write a letter to the Human Body Corporation defending your position in the company. In your letter, you need to describe to the corporation the following characteristics of your organ and explain why you are important to the Human Body Corporation. 1. Tell what the name of your organ is and where you are located. 2. Identify what systems of the body you work with. 3. Describe how you work with these systems. 4. List the other organs that work with you in your system. 5. Describe your main functions as a Human Body organ. 6. Tell the corporation how you perform these functions. 7. Tell the corporation why you are important and why they should not fire you. Explain what might happen to the Human Body Corporation if they fired you. You will read your letter to the Human Body Committee (the rest of the class). Along with your letter, you will need to have a photograph (labeled drawing) of your organ to use as a visual aid. Project Due: _________________________

The Lord of the Cell Starring: Cell Membrane (dressed as ‘Gandalf with large staff) Nucleus- HQ-Commander-holds lots of cell phones Cytoplasm-holds all the organelles together-counselor- Lysosome-(grim reaper or Darth Vader-all black/robe) kills bacteria/has power of necrosis- cell death-----the TRASH Collector of the cell…gets it out Mitochondria-energy processor-with flashlight (has energy processor like Iron Man-see if someone has an Iron Man costume) Endoplasmic Reticulum-holds ribosomes (bosses the Ribosomes) Ribosomes-protein makers-3-3 boys posing muscular poses Golgi Apparatus-macromolecule packaging Centrosomes-create centriole tubes with DNA copies Toxins-with disguises Food/Water-signs labeled as such Cytoplasm…create lines… dressed in pink and work out gear and a floatation device…keeps things flowing ***May have more than one student play each part if you have a large class.. Plot Synopsis: Small conversations occur on a typical cell day. Show characters in their natural setting. Then tragedy strikes. Cell is attacked. Who will be the Lord of the Cell-will it be the Cell Membrane, the Lysosome, or Nucleus who saves the day? All on scene Nucleus in on the phones…’yes, no, make ribosomes, let’s go over there, float, no it is not time to divide-mitosis will be later…goodbye’….it is so hard to be the ‘Lord of the Cell’…so much pressure

My Life as a Raindrop

Explore a Site With your group or on your own, journey to this link and think about how you could use these graphic organizers to facilitate your own writing in your classroom.