Oh good! I have never done the role sheets, but would teach students how to have discussions. I liked that much more than having different roles.
On 3/29/07, Kathy Swensen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > At a recent (and wonderful) Harvey Daniels workshop, I was quite pleased > to learn that he no longer recommends the use of the role sheets, instead > favoring more natural and authentic discussion. > Kathy > > >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 3/29/2007 4:47 PM >>> > > > -------Original Message------- > > From: Barbara Punchak > Date: 3/29/2007 3:11:16 PM > To: 'A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades.' > Subject: [LIT] Grading novels? > > On the subject of "grading" the novels: I have been doing Literature > groups > in my six 8th grade classes for the month of March. The first week was > preparation for the novel (anticipation guides, etc.). Each class is > doing > a different novel, but are required to do the same "assessment" > activities. > We do "Written conversation"..which is the group asking each other fat > questions, get answers and respond; a sticky note menu which has the > students connecting, predicting, inferring, finding good figurative > language > etc.; a character trait chart; a Mandala graphic which is based on colors > that symbolize the main character's traits; all these assessments are > weighted differently,but it enables me to come up with a "grade" for the > students. I read with each class and facilitate the assignments, > discussing > as I would with adults about the content of the novel. Hope that helps. It > really is very easy if the students are aware of what is expected in the > beginning. I really don't like the "role sheets" for groups; the kids > really > hate them and treat them as monotonous work. I think the role sheets are > great for the lower grades to get the kids ready for higher level > thinking. > > Janet Smith > 8th Grade Reading > Conneaut Middle School > Conneaut, Ohio > > > > _______________________________________________ > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > > _______________________________________________ > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > > > _______________________________________________ > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > -- - Heather "The world of books is the most remarkable creation of man. Nothing else that he builds ever lasts. Monuments fall; nations perish; civilizations grow old and die out; new races build others. But in the world of books are volumes that have seen this happen again and again and yet live on. Still young, still as fresh as the day they were written, still telling men's hearts of the hearts of men centuries dead." --Clarence Day "While the rhetoric is highly effective, remarkably little good evidence exists that there's any educational substance behind the accountability and testing movement." —Peter Sacks, Standardized Minds "When our children fail competency tests the schools lose funding. When our missiles fail tests, we increase funding. " —Dennis Kucinich, Democratic Presidential Candidate _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
