| TOPICS: Reading in the Content Areas | | | | The Common Core State Standards set requirements not only for English language arts (ELA) but also for literacy in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects.* The standards make content area reading more important than ever. Reading associated with the content areas reflects not only the concepts and ideas important to these subjects, but also the text structures used by those practicing in various content-related fields. Content texts are usually expository, and require the reader to use diffferent reading and comprehension strategies than when reading literature. According to K-12 Reader, it is important that the reader employ general reading strategies such as questioning, making inferences and connections and activating prior knowledge and content specific strategies including drawing on subject specific information to make meaning of the text. During this process the reader should be deriving meaning on three levels: literal (understanding the information written on the page), inferential (reading 'between the lines') and evaluation (making judgments and conclusions about the information). These abilities develop from good content area reading instruction and practice. Teachers, do you have a favorite strategy for supporting reading in the content areas? Please share them with us, and we will post them in the next newsletter. *It is important to note that the 6-12 literacy standards in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects are not meant to replace content standards in those areas but rather to supplement them. |
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 | | TEACHER BUZZ: What teachers are saying about the Middle School Literacy Initiative | | |
We rounded up some comments teachers are making about the Middle School Literacy Initiative on Facebook:
"Awesome program!" Billy C. Michigan "This is a wonderful resource." Tracey C., Massachusetts "...this is truly AWESOME! I am excited!" Teresa N., Indiana "This is great." Salkis A., Texas "...it can be a tremendous classroom resource." David A., Ohio |
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| | FEATURED LESSONS: Reading in the content areas with the Middle School Literacy Initiative | | | Do your students need practice with content-area reading? We've got you covered. With these self-paced online lessons, perfect for blended learning environments, students can read, review vocabulary, and practice writing in the content areas. Click the images to visit the individual lessons: | Science | In this lesson on continental drift, students learn how an idea that started with a man looking at a map of continents became a scientific theory. |
| | Mathematics | In this math lesson on unit conversion, students figure out how much water various activities use, and also learn about water conservation. |  | | Health | Should I eat this? Here, students learn about nutrition values of different foods, and meet two students with diabetes. |  | | Social Studies | In this lesson, students meet four teen immigrants and learn about the challenges they face as they adapt to American culture. |  |
An important component of these lessons is writing assignments in which students write opinion pieces supported by facts from the video, charts, and lesson text. To help prepare students for these lessons, you can talk with them to determine what they know about the topics. Encourage students to use content-area vocabulary. The Teacher's Guide available with each lesson provides guidelines. To use the lessons, students simply need to register for an account on PBS LearningMedia, or use their existing account. |
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| | | | | NCTE Events! | | | The National Council of Teachers of English conference is in our backyard this year, at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Nov. 21-23. We're co-hosting the Middle Level Get-Together, Thursday 4pm-6pm. Come by and say hello, take a few minutes to learn about the Middle School Literacy Collection, and enter our Downton Abbey raffle! On Friday at 3pm, we'll be in the exhibit floor presentation space, talking about the collection and other ELA resources from PBS LearningMedia, and giving away a prize pack. |
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| | Where Are We? | | | | Find the Middle School Literacy Initiative at these webinars and conferences. Boston, MA November 21-24 EdWeb WebinarsDec. 11, 5pm ET "Teach Reading and Content Seamlessly" Jan. 14, 5pm ET "Teach Math and Literacy Seamlessly" Feb. 25, 5pm ET "Flipped Lit"
Orlando, FL January 28-31
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| | Did you miss the AMLE/PBS LearningMedia webinar on free digital literacy lessons for blended learning? Not to worry, the webinar was recorded, so you can watch and listen as Carol Studebaker, literacy coach, and Charlotte Hodges, 6th grade teacher, provide tips for using these online, cross-curricular, media-rich literacy lessons. This webinar received high marks for quality from the attendees, so don't miss out!
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The Middle School Literacy Initiative is funded by the Walmart Foundation. |
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