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Comment for Michael Gualtieri's Presentation on Graphic Organizer

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Comment for Michael Gualtieri's Presentation on Graphic Organizer

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I agree with you, Michael that the slides were an excellent source in providing example of formal writing formats because it gives teaching an understanding of what the essay is. Therefore, it makes it easier to teach the format to our students.

-Fatimah Ojesanmi

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Just the Facts: Research and Theory about Grammar Instruction

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Just the Facts: Research and Theory about Grammar Instruction

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Edith Blackwood

The article acknowledges that grammar has a place in the classroom. Based on analysis of various studies the teaching of grammatical concepts within the context of language had a more positive impact on improving students abilities to write well, than the traditional isolated grammar instruction in the  classroom. One major highlight of The Shaughnessy study 1977 interpreted by Clover and Shay points out that "the development of grammatical understanding enables a student to build a paradigm through which to view the world and act in it through language that can apply in a variety of context. Teachers should move from rule-based grammar to "the grammar of discovery" which is a classroom that includes grammar within the context of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Grammar should be a means by which students learn about themselves, their text and the world around them.

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The concept that stood out to me the most in this PowerPoint was slide 17.  It was actually a graphic organizer. I like the t fact that it encourages three students to write about what is seen and then write about what is unseen.

I believe that ghee overall theme of our readings is the idea of teaching students ti look beyond the text. For example,  Close Reading asks for students to make connections between different texts.  Virtual Thinking Response supports students in dissecting a text or a picture. And Reciprocal Readings allows for students to work in groups,  collaborate and analyze a section of text.

The Powerpoint presentation as a whole was filled with information on how to teach students to read and write critically.  It was a pleasure to view.

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Fatimah, I agree the guide is a great tool.  Special education teachers are expected to teach all content areas, regardless if we know or do not know how to teach any of the writing styles or how to begin. Desiree Joseph

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Michael Gualtieri

One highlight I liked from the Google Slides presentation was how the examples of argumentative essays. I t was good that after giving us the proper format of argumentative writing, you showed us examples, and then used a graphic organizer to show how the same essays fit into the format. A struggling learner might have had a hard time figuring out how the sample essays fit into the format of introducing a claim, providing evidence, and offering anylasis without the aid of a graphic organizer.

-Michael Gualtieri

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Arenah Grace

I learned something new about teaching grammar after reading this article.  It highlights the importance of teaching grammar in the context of reading and writing instead of as a separate ELA instructional unit.  What I like about this instructional strategy is that students can make real connections to the study of grammar and also activate their prior knowledge.  The article states that students are not treated as if they no nothing about the language they use daily, instead students' daily use of language is used as the foundation for the grammar lesson.  I also like that grammar instruction is ongoing and that proofreading written work for grammatical corrections is done at the end of an assignment.  The article also states the importance of revisiting grammar instruction throughout the curriculum so that students who did not grasp the lesson on the 1st day have the opportunity to learn the lesson on another day.

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Fatimah Ojesanmi

One highlight from the article was that students were not being taught grammar effectively and how traditional grammar was being taught in classrooms.  Furthermore, the author discusses how teachers do not focus on context and language where effects students’ reading and writing skills.

I agree with that concept because students are not being taught about punctuation, how to use punctuation correctly in their writing, and how to use nouns, verbs or adjectives to make sense of their writing. I really do not understand why that it is, how we can we expect students to write effectively if they are not being taught to become writers. Even when students are in high school, they make a lot of errors in grammar and teachers expect students to be aware of proper grammar. Research strongly suggests that the most beneficial way of helping students improve their command of grammar in writing is to use students' writing as the basis for discussing grammatical concepts. Researchers agree that it is more effective to teach punctuation, sentence variety, and usage in the context of writing than to approach the topic by teaching isolated skills (Calkins, 1980; DiStefano and Killion, 1984; Harris, 1962). I believe we should lesson on different topics in grammar so students could effectively use to improve their writing skills. In addition, the author provided strategies in how teach grammar in vocabulary, literature, writing, proofreading and usage. The author believe that you have to teach that grammar lesson should build upon the previous instruction where they; they can prewrite about the narrator, how they feel and write on a different point of view.

One highlight from the Differentiated and Scaffolded Formal Writing Instruction across the Content Areas presentation which thoroughly the different forms of formal writing such as argumentative, informative/explanatory, narrative and research papers in terms; of how to teach it, sample questions, graphic organizers and examples to each type of formal writing. This is a great guide for teachers to teach writing style to their students in which they can explain to them and use graphic organizers in clarifying information for students. Many teachers do not how to teach any of these writing styles or how to begin, so this guide is a great tool for teachers to learn more and how to teach their students.

Fatimah Ojesanmi

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Lauren Barbella

One highlight in Anderson's article is that he uses a "Zoom in, Zoom out" method to teach his english class. Anderson zooms into the smallest chunk of meaning, whether it be a sentence or a few sentences, or a paragraph. After the class zooms in and looks at the content, they play around with the grammar in their writer's notebooks, and then they zoom back out and look at the writing piece as a whole. Anderson relates the examples to the student's world to make it more meaningful and understanding for them. Anderson starts by looking at the concepts that the students' need first. He zooms in and out as needed, making sure that students are retaining the appropriate information. After the students practice zooming in and out on context to see examples of grammar, they include what they learned into their own writing. To ensure that his method is still working effectively, he reflects on his teaching and reads.

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Desiree Joseph
One highlight is Hartwell’s explanation of the 4 types of grammar and his suggestion on developing a Grammar 5.  Grammar 5 helps students use their meta linguistic knowledge, their conscious knowledge of Grammar 1, to convey meaning and purpose.  Hartwell’s theory stood out as a way for educators to differentiate and evaluate students usage of grammar within the classroom.

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Just the Facts: Research and Theory about Grammar Instruction

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Just the Facts: Research and Theory about Grammar Instruction

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I really enjoy this readying. I absolutely believe that teachers should teach grammar within the content of a larger lesson and focus on the most frequent errors students make in writing. Shaughnessy's research looked at the patterns in students error, which is an indication of misconceptions and problems with logic. This is where the "teacher will need to include grammar within the context of reading, writing, listening and speaking."
The idea that grammar is meaning-based rather than rule- based is an interesting way of understanding distinction between grammatical understanding and correctness. This is why differentiated instruction is so important.
Marsha Aris