Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the
man with the wrong mental attitude.
- Thomas Jefferson

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Literacy in My Social Studies Classroom (wk 3)



As an English and Social Studies teacher, literacy is much easier and more straightforward to incorporate than it would be for a math or science teacher.  In my social studies classes, I incorporate a lot of reading, writing, and speaking/debate.  As part of the WWII unit, I require students to read one book (biography or historical non-fiction) and create a written analysis and verbal presentation covering their reading.  We also do several lessons on collecting, using, and interpreting primary and secondary sources as part of their projects and research papers.  My students, in some of the classes, also are required to engage in a structures debate, requiring them to research, prepare their arguments, and then engage in a debate with their fellow students. 
Going into more detail regarding the WWII project, students are typically given a list of pre-approved books from which they may choose (other books are approved on a case-by-case basis).  The books can be either a biography of a WWII figure (famous or not or a historical non-fiction work covering a topic from WWII.  If I know a student will have trouble reading the books on the approved list, I do have a small list of less-advanced materials they may choose from.  The same goes for advances students – I also have a small list of more advanced books that they may choose from if they would like.  Once the students select their books, I require them to fill out three “journal” entry sheets covering their reading – the first one at the beginning of their reading to summarize the introduction and discuss their expectations, what they are hoping to learn from the book, and what they think the book will be about (a modified KWL).  They then complete one about midway through the reading covering what is happening in the book and if/how their expectations (KWL) of the book are changing.  The final one is completed after they have finished the book to reflect on it and begin planning out their project.  The project entails a written analysis of the book and a presentation (in digital format) covering the book. 
Social Studies requires a lot of reading, writing, and speaking, making literacy easy to incorporate into the lessons.  I can also see where literacy can be incorporated in to science and health classes.  I am struggling, however to see how it can be incorporated in secondary math classes.  I suppose that students could create word problems and mathematical scenarios, but I would think that would be limited in regards to literacy.  Does anyone have any ideas or tricks for incorporating literacy into a secondary math classroom?
Click HERE to read about Jennifer Faulk's theory regarding read-alouds in the secondary math classroom
Posted by at

9 comments:

  1. UnknownSeptember 6, 2012 at 5:15 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownSeptember 6, 2012 at 6:20 PM

      As a math gal, I have always known the language of math as a form of literacy. There are so many components of literacy that you mention that could apply in a math classroom. Connecting the vocabulary, numbers, and symbols in meaningful ways is imperative to literacy. This is done by teaching how to read directions, connecting math words to 'regular' words (vocabulary), shaping learning conversations in pairs and small groups, having students become the teachers and present what they have learned, practice note-taking skills and text marking, learning strategies for understanding a math textbook, using appropriate online resources to enhance instruction & learning... It's all about understanding what is really happening in the classroom and changing our language to be literacy-focused!

      Delete
  2. UnknownSeptember 6, 2012 at 5:27 PM

    I also have used Dr. Seuss in the classroom, not only as a read-a-loud for middle school students, but the center of a lesson. I took portions of the text and created problems that related to it. For example, we read One Fish Two Fish and answered probability questions like "what's the probability of fishing in the pond and catching a blue fish? " We also read Green Eggs and Ham and answered questions like, "if the fox were in a box with a width of 10 ft. and a volume of 240 sq. ft., what are possible dimensions if the box?". The kids hadn't seen these types of relationships before and really enjoyed making the connections through their reading and conversations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Miss TateSeptember 10, 2012 at 6:03 PM

      I love the idea of using books they are familiar with to teach math! Using Dr. Suess books would be a great Dr. Suess week activity with my math class. Now I'm thinking about all the possibilities!

      Delete
    2. UnknownSeptember 10, 2012 at 6:17 PM

      I actually shaped the activities to tie into the current curriculum during Dr. Seuss week. Having worked in early childhood, I have a lot of books that the kids have a positive relationship (which is great to find when there is such a variance of readers in one class). I started to imagine how I might use more children's classics. How wonderful it is to see smiles in math class when talking about their favorite children's books and exploring how they relate to much more than just reading.

      Here is some inspiration for lower levels...

      http://themes.atozteacherstuff.com/488/dr-seuss-activities-lesson-plans-printables-ideas-units/

      http://mrsjonesroom.com/themes/seuss.html

      Delete
    3. HeatherSeptember 12, 2012 at 9:28 PM

      Mrs. A-
      I absolutely love your ideas and how you bring back books your kids were probably familiar with when they were younger. Now as adolescents, they can have a new appreciation for them.

      Delete
  3. Jennifer ChuraSeptember 7, 2012 at 4:44 PM

    Mrs. A - Awesome ideas!!! Thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dr CSeptember 8, 2012 at 5:23 PM

    I like the idea of having the students read a book of interest to them and report on it. I am starting a Current Health class for Juniors and Seniors next year and think that this would be a great way to enhance literacy in Health classes. My class is based on decision making and reading biography's would make my students examine how decision making impacted some of the students favorite people. I could then have them make a digital story to report back to the class about their book. Thanks for the idea.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Rob RaphaelSeptember 9, 2012 at 9:54 PM

    Having never taught at the middle school level, I had never considered being a language arts/social studies teacher. How interesting it must be to be able to refer to yourself, as it were, to form a consistent literacy curriculum between the disciplines. I agree with many this week that have suggested seeking the help of another teacher that shares one's concern about integrating literacy learning.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)