Backwards Design - Stage 1 - Writing

Established Goals:

Standards

W.6.2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization and analysis of relevant content.

Understandings:

Students will understand how to write informative/explanatory texts that convey ideas and concepts using relevant information that is carefully selected and organized.

Essential Questions:

·      What is an informative/explanatory text?

·      How can I examine a topic and convey ideas and concepts?

·      How can I carefully select and organize relevant ideas?

Learning Outcomes:

Students will know…

·      How to go through the five stages of the writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing

·      How to use a graphic organizer to outline and organize their ideas

Students will be able to...

·      Write an informative/explanatory text based on an assigned topic.

·      Convey their ideas clearly by selecting and organizing relevant ideas.

·      Use the five stages of the writing process accurately.

Backwards Design - Stage 1 - ELA

Established Goals

Standards

1.     RI.6.3 Students will analyze in detail how a key individual, event or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes)

2.     RI.6.4 Students will determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative and technical meanings.

3.     RI.6.6 Students will determine an author’s point if view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.

4.     RI.6.7 Students will integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.

Understandings

Students will understand that…

·      An informational text presents facts about a topic, event or an individual.

·      Many times the text can be used to derive the meanings of an unknown words or phrases.

·      The author’s point of view and purpose can be determined through the facts and details presented in the text by the author.

Essential Questions

·      What is an informational text?

·      How do you determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text?

·      How to you determine the author’s point of view or purpose?

·      How do you develop understanding of topic or issue that it presented through various media formats?

Learning Outcomes:

Students will know….

·      Kew terms – purpose, point of view

·      How to read a broad category of nonfiction texts that includes biographies, autobiographies, texts about historical events, social studies, science, the arts and technical texts such as how-to books.

·      How to determine the purpose and point of view of a piece of text.

Students will be able to…

·      Analyze how key individuals, events, or ideas are developed throughout a text.

·      Use a variety of strategies to determine word meaning in informational texts.

·      Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in an informational text.

·      Explain how an author’s point of view is conveyed in an informational text.

·      Use a variety of media to develop and deepen my understanding of a topic or idea.

My Prezis on The Learning Theory & The Learning Process

The Learning Theory

http://prezi.com/ztcgyuhdbn18/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

The Learning Process

http://prezi.com/eq2qkn49y4q_/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Assignment #3 Understanding by Design

I have never heard of Backwards Design so it is a new topic for me. From watching the two videos what I understood about Backward Design is that the goal needs to be determined before the planning of the activity. I also noticed that the goal is very specific. Usually, the objective of a lesson is very basic. What I found most interesting in the video is that he mentions that the textbook is a resource and not the curriculum. When I first started teaching, I didn’t have any teaching background. I would always use the textbook as my main source because I thought the students needed to know all of it. But soon I realized that is an impossible task. Eventually I learned that not everything in the textbook is relevant to what I’m teaching. Then I started to use parts of a chapter and not the entire chapter as a supplement to my lesson. Getting back to the Backward Design, I like the fact that it outlines the three phases and explains in detail what educators need to focus on when creating a lesson. It really helps narrow down the focus. 

Hello Everyone!

My name is Fatima Johara. I am currently teaching grade 4 at a private school in Queens, New York. I graduated from NYIT in 2008 as a Business Administration major and started teaching that same year. I never thought about teaching but over the past few years, I realized this is something I really enjoy. It gives me a sense of fulfillment. That’s I decided to start my Masters in this field. I teach the five major subjects: Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies. Of all the subjects I teach, my favorite is Science and Social Studies. I also enjoy teaching Math, especially when we have hands on activities. Some of my hobbies are watching movies, cooking, doing arts and crafts and shopping online. My husband and I have two kittens named Tom (boy) and Jerry (girl).

I teach very basic Grammar and Writing at school. However, it isn’t my strength. This is something I would like to improve. I don’t know much about new literacy but is it something like literacy and technology combined? My main concern about this course is learning as much as I possibly can and being able to utilize them in the classroom. Looking forward to a great semester with everyone!

Fatima