Robyn, I think you've nailed it! The primary purpose and focus during reading and writer's workshop must be teaching the reader/writer and when that can be served through integration, then so be it. When it cannot be, there must be time for the needs of the reader--or writer--to take precedence.
Lori Jackson District Literacy Coach and Mentor Todd County School District Box 87 Mission SD 5755 ----- Original message ----- From: Robyn Kouw <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Date: Monday, April 27, 2009 6:02 PM Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Thematic Units or Reading Across the Curriculum > > Hello, > > I have been following this discussion with interest. I am an Australian > living in the Netherlands. I have been a Literacy Coordinator for about ten > years. At the moment I am studying again, and sometimes work in a literacy > consulting role with a local international school. > > I am used to teaching inquiry based learning, rather than the thematic > approach, but the concept of integration into literacy is the same. In my > experience you can successfully use materials that stem from your inquiry (or > theme) in literacy, providing the focus is a literacy based focus. For > example, if a group of students need to increase their reading fluency, this > must be your focus. Texts at the right level that link into the inquiry or > theme can be used to support this. Integration does help to provide > authentic reading and writing tasks. If we exclusively use materials from > our inquiry or theme, however, we can actually miss chunks of important > reading, writing, speaking and listening instruction. I strongly believe > that we should first begin with the literacy learning focus for the students > we teach (based on the assessment, teaching and learning cycle) then look to > see if we can link our inquiry or theme to this (not the other way around). > If we do this, meaning can be added to both literacy and to the inquiry (or > theme). > > > > Robyn Kouw > > > > > From: [email protected] > > To: [email protected] > > Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:18:09 -0500 > > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Thematic Units or Reading Across the Curriculum > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > > > Change is a difficult thing for everyone. It may be that the teachers you > > are working with are not 100% sure of how to teach the strategies you are > > discussing. They may also not see why they are important. The more > > rationale you can offer them, the better. I coach teachers regularly and > > one technique that works very well is to phrase things in terms of what the > > students need vs. what the teachers should do. "The students are having > > trouble remembering the vocabulary for this unit, here are some strategies > > that will help the kids connect to the text better and remember the > > vocabulary..." The focus remains on the students- always. > > > > > > > > If the teachers say they are already integrating reading and writing in > > other subject areas- then consider sharing explicit examples of strategies > > you feel they need to add to what they are doing. Is it possible for you to > > model a science or social studies lesson for them where you explicitly > > demonstrate the kinds of strategy instruction you are referring too? Seeing > > you in action may make your conversations about Mosaic more meaningful. You > > could also video tape yourself with your own students if it is not possible > > to visit other classrooms. > > > > > > > > Amy McGovern > > > > > > > > > Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:02:11 -0500 > > > To: [email protected] > > > From: [email protected] > > > Subject: [MOSAIC] Thematic Units or Reading Across the Curriculum > > > > > > Hello friends. I am leading a Mosaic book study with teachers at my > > > school. > > > Many, if not all, of the teachers say they "integrate reading and writing > > > and teach it across the curriculum". I believe this is code for not > > > specifically teaching reading and writing, but rather assigning reading > > > and > > > writing assignments/activities, and calling that their instruction of > > > reading/writing. What they are actually teaching is social studies or > > > science, with throwing in reading and writing assignments with no > > > instruction on how to read or write strategically. > > > > > > Personally, I believe in the workshop framework for both reading and > > > writing, and believe in directly teaching reading and writing strategies > > > through mini-lessons. They believe, wholeheartedly, that their thematic, > > > integrated approach to teaching is working and best practice. I believe > > > differently. > > > > > > How do I combat this response of "integrated" instruction? > > > Am I missing a crucial piece? Perhaps I am wrong here and many of you also > > > use thematic units and content areas to teach strategies. How do other > > > teachers of workshop model classrooms handle the balance between reading > > > and > > > social studies? > > > > > > Many thanks! > > > > > > Andrea Jenkins > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > 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. > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Rediscover Hotmail®: Now available on your iPhone or BlackBerry > > http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Mobile2_042009 > > _______________________________________________ > > 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. > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Need a new place to rent, share or buy? Let ninemsn property search for you. > http://a.ninemsn.com.au/b.aspx?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fninemsn%2Edomain%2Ecom%2Eau%2F%3Fs%5Fcid%3DFDMedia%3ANineMSN%5FHotmail%5FTagline&_t=774152450&_r=Domain_tagline&_m=EXT > _______________________________________________ > 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. > > _______________________________________________ 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.
