Shift 2:

Building Knowledge in the Disciplines

Exploring the ShiftBuilding as we go along

Spending equal time on informational text and literary text. Building knowledge in disciplines of science, history and social studies through reading. Considering text complexity. Responding to text with evidence. Writing an arument based on evidence. Focusing attention on academic vocabulary.

The Bigger Picture

Literacy tasks across the curriculum must address application of literacy standards in History/Social Studies, Science, Math, and Technical Subjects in all areas of study.

Facts!!
70% of what students read is informational in grades 6-12!!!.
Literature
K-2 3-5 6-12 50% 50% 30% -Fiction - Poetry - Drama - Shakespeare

Informational
50% 50% 70% -Substantially more literary non-fiction - Essays - Speeches - Opinion Pieces -Biographies -Journalism -Historical -Scientific - Contemporary event - Nature -The Arts -Founding Documents

Shift 2: Spending equal time

Provide students with a true balance of informational and literary texts. Require students to have rich and rigorous conversations which are dependent on a common text.

Shift 2: Building knowledge

Content area teachers outside of the ELA classroom emphasize literacy experiences in their planning and instruction. Provide strategies necessary to build background knowledge.

Comprehension is increased further when acquisition of background

knowledge is coupled with explicit strategy instruction. ~ Heather Rader ~

Shift 2: Text Complexity

In order to prepare students for the complexity of college and career-ready texts, each grade level requires growth in text complexity . Teachers create more time in the curriculum for close reading and provide and necessary supports to make the central text accessible to students reading below grade level.
Students are expected to learn from what they read!

Shift 2: Responding with evidence and writing an argument

Develop habits for making evidentiary arguments both in conversation, as well as in writing to assess comprehension of a text. Develop skills through written arguments that respond to the ideas, events, facts, and arguments presented in the text they read. By grade 7, standards require students to be able to write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

Shift 2: Focus on Vocabulary

Focus strategically on comprehension of commonly found words. Require students to define vocabulary in context from the text. Make connections!!

Students need to be able to

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in text. Analyze the authors purpose by providing an explanation. Develop claims and counterclaims fairly. Supply data and evidence, while properly citing information.

Understanding the Change Being the Change How to Change