Lori, I agree. Conversation skills are totally lacking in many of our students' families/lives today. Kids (and their parents) spend too much time on the computer, visiting their friends' pages in "My Space," chatting online, or playing video/computer games ALONE. Sadly, many parents allow the computer to be in their child's bedroom, and as long as the child is "out of sight," parents think all is well. Not so.
The Language Experience is a great way to begin. For older students, you can have each small group, of 3-4 students, read a short book together (yes, even a picture book), then take turns retelling sections of it orally, and finally writing the retelling on chart paper to share with the class. [To be sure everyone participates, I wouldn't recommend groups larger than 4 students.] A lesson like this addresses "reading, writing, speaking, and listening," so would incorporate all aspects of reading--thereby meeting your benchmarks. (always have to "document" benchmarks taught) Bill: I loved your idea of reviewing a movie. What a great opportunity for kids! I would have loved your assignment as a student. One idea that I use with my 6th graders is to have them do impromptu speeches. Topics are placed in a bucket and students walk up, pull out a topic, have 10 seconds to read it, and must speak for 2 minutes. I usually do impromptu speeches in either 3rd or 4th quarter, when students feel comfortable with me and their classmates, and after they've had other opportunities to do oral reports, plays, skits, etc. Barbara/6th/FL -----Original Message----- On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have been encoutnering some frustrations as well, particularly with older students. I am not witnessing much that encourages me in terms of discourse patterns at these levels. The students seem overwhelmingly lethargic and reluctant to engage. It has convinced me we need to worry as much, if not more, about oral language and discourse patterns as we do about anything else that we do. Essentially, I wonder if our students have appropriate conversation skills to discuss what they see or read, and if this is not the place where we should begin. Lori _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
