# data[].attributes.body
Transition Words
This strategy works on transition words and even sentences, which is something that all students even in high school struggle with. It introduces different ways to make writing flow better and sound more fluent.

Advantages:
- provides coherence to writing
- help writer fill the gap between sentences and ideas
- can help signal readers as to what is coming next

Disadvantages:
- Can be too advanced for young writers
- if students are not familiar with transition word examples, they will not be able to demonstrate this strategy

ELLs:
ELLs might have a tough time knowing what transition words are or what even a transition is. To make this more attainable for them, a teacher could create flashcards or visuals to help them learn what transitioning is and how to use it.

Citation:
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/transition_words

# data[].attributes.body
RAFT
This strategy goes over R- role the students play as writers, A- the audience they will address, F- the different formats of writing, and T- topic they will write about. This strategy breaks down certain aspects of writing and makes the student think about the different components of writing. If they can not answer these questions, chances are their topic is not strong enough.

Advantages:
- includes writing from different viewpoints
- helps students learn the different components of writing
- students can think creatively while writing

Disadvantages:
- could be too difficult for some students to learn all at once

ELLs:
For an ELL, a teacher could individually introduce each step and have the ELL complete each one separately before having them do all the steps together. This would ensure that the student full understands each part of the process.

Citation:
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/raft

# data[].attributes.body
First Lines
This strategy is used before reading. Students will read the first sentences of text and predict what the rest of the story or excerpt will be about. This helps the students focus on what they can already learn about the text from the first few lines.

Advantages:
- helps students focus on predictions
- makes students look at what they already know based on only a few lines
- involves critical thinking

Disadvantages:
- could be harder for younger students
- could be difficult for students if the text that was picked was poor or too hard for them to understand

ELLs:
If ELLs don't understand how to predict, this would be a good time for the teacher to work one on one with the student to teach them what they need to know. If the teacher has the students write down a prediction maybe the student could come up and tell her what their prediction is or draw a picture of what they predict will happen.

Citation:
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/first_lines

# data[].attributes.body
QAR (Question Answer Relationship)
QAR refers to the different questions that a student can ask or may be asked by their teacher. Each type of question requires a different type of response. It is important that students can differentiate what questions their teacher is asking and know how to answer them.

Advantages:
- improves reading comprehension
- teaches students how to answer questions and where to look for the answers
- it utilizes critical thinking

Disadvantages:
- not easy for younger grades
- not as engaging as a hands on activity

ELLs:
This can help ELLs to know what a teacher is expecting of them. They will learn how to appropriately answer questions that teachers ask after having learned what each question means and how to appropriately respond.

Citation:
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/question_answer_relationship

# data[].attributes.body
Think Pair Share
During Think Pair Share students can converse with another student to combine ideas on a certain topic and see what their peers are thinking. This helps students to gain more knowledge and broaden their understanding.

Advantages:
- allows students to share their ideas
- makes students who are unsure more confident in their answers
- allows for collaboration with others

Disadantages:
- could get chaotic if students do not know how to behave during activity
- could get off topic/ students easily distracted

ELLs:
For ELLs,  working with another student would greatly help them with their understanding of the topic being discussed. The teacher could also try to intervene and somehow relate it back to the student's culture or language.

Citation:
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/think-pair-share

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The page you are looking for is no longer available. As stated in our communication in January 2018 and subsequent site banners; as of July 31st, 2018 all Free and Classroom Wikis were disabled and are no longer accessible. We thank you for your interest in Wikispaces over the years and wish you all the best with your future endeavours.

# data[].attributes.body
Revision
Revision is something that needs to be taught to all students. Their first draft is definitely not their best, so it is important that they are taught to go back and look at their work and make corrections before they turn it in.

Advantages:
- students can reflect on what they have already written
- helps the student to learn to be more detailed in their writing
- it helps them think for critically about what they are writing and how to make it better

Disadvantages:
- If not taught properly students will not know how to revise correctly
- if not supervised, revision time can sometimes not be used correctly by students- they tend to get distracted and not focus on their work

ELLs:
Revising is something that an ELL could work one on one with a teacher. The teacher could really use that time to explain to them why we write the way we do, etc. They can learn from their mistakes and make a lot of progress by knowing how to revise correctly.

Citation:
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/revision

# data[].attributes.body
Framed Paragraphs
Framed Paragraphs are a pre-writing tool that students can use when they are first being introduced to longer writing such as essays or longer paragraphs. This strategy helps a student to map out the main topic and details that should be included in formal writing.

Advantages:
- provides a good frame for formal writing
- helps students work on transitional sentences
- builds stronger writers

Disadvantages:
- might not work for every student- some don't learn this way
- could be too difficult for some students-make sure it is not past their ability

ELLs:
For ELL students, using this framework could help them to learn the English language and how it works. This frame work teachers punctuation, how to write sentences, etc., so it could really help introduce them to writing in English.

Citation:
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/framed_paragraphs

# data[].attributes.body
Listen- Read-Discuss
This strategy breaks up comprehension into multiple steps. There is a lecture given by the teacher prior to reading, a text read over a specific topic, and then a large class discussion at the end of the lesson.

Advantages:
- it helps students learn to comprehend when taught orally
- it builds background knowledge prior to the students reading the text
- it builds confidence in students talking in large groups

Disadvantages:
- it appeals to oral learners which not all students are
- large group discussion could result in shy, soft spoken students not sharing their ideas

ELLs:
For ELLs, who do not understand our language very well, learning orally could be very challenging for them. Having a printed out copy of what the teacher is going to lecture on could be very helpful to them as well as meeting one on one with a teacher after the lesson so that the teacher can ensure that the student is on the same page as their classmates.

Citation:
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/listen_read_discuss

# data[].attributes.body
Paragraph Shrinking
This strategy allows students to work in pairs or small groups and read text. Every so often, or after each paragraph, that reader will pause and summarize what they have just read and pick out the main points.

Advantages:
- helps develop comprehension skills
- helps students to pick out the main idea rather than focus on all the tiny details
- allows for group work

Disadvantages:
- if students are not comfortable reading in front of others they may have a problem with this strategy
- students may not understand how to pick out the main points- it will not be as effective to them if they cannot summarize

ELLs:
This would work extremely well for ELLs. Because they are working in small groups or with partners, those groups could help them with their comprehension skills. They could relate what they are saying back to the pictures or visuals in the text to help their classmate to understand what the main point is.

Citation: http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/paragraph_shrinking

# data[].attributes.body
Exit Slips
Exit Slips are quick informal ways for teachers to assess what their students have comprehended. The slips are given at the end of class and are short. They are meant to reflect what the student has retained from the lesson just taught.

Advantages:
- engage students' critical thinking skills
- are easy informal assessments that still give insight to what students know
- gives students the opportunity to reflect on their knowledge

Disadvantages:
- given at the end of class- students might rush through them and not really think about answers
- can get repetitive and boring for students if done too often

ELLs:
To use this for an ELL who might not have the best understanding of our language and how to write it, a teacher could always have their exit slip use pictures rather than words. Also, if it helps when they are first being introduced to the class, the question could be in their native language. The teacher could slowly transition the exit slip questions to English.

Citation:
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/exit_slips