Teaching Research and Informational Writing in the Elementary Classroom

1. Teaching Research and Informational Writing in the Elementary Classroom A Presentation by Beverly Keegan and Melissa O�Neill

2. Today�s Agenda I. Introductions and welcome II. �CB Research Model� III. Practical ideas for teaching steps in model IV. Lunch V. Informational Writing Overview VI. Practical ideas for teaching informational writing

3. Research: �Best Practices� Working in tandem with librarian Not best in isolation�goes both ways CB research model: bootleg copy Planning backward + PA State Standards Should be somewhat similar to current practice �Freestyling� by one? Reteaching for all Need vertical integration of research skills in buildings

4. Warming Up for Research Shouldn�t run without stretching Shouldn�t build house without plans Shouldn�t start cooking without knowing what is in the fridge and pantry Shouldn�t research without planning, evaluating, and strategizing

5. Step 1: Choose a topic First step in warm-up All writing=topic Element of choice =important Might start with training wheels By 6th grade, training wheels off Need practice with narrowing and broadening More opportunities for choice as progress through grades Melissa---benefits of choice from writing perspective STOP AND THINK:

6. Practical Tools for Initial Topic Selection Inspiration and Kidspiration webs Brainstorming on paper Topic selection grid Writer�s Notebook (O�Neill) Source searches: Online encyclopedia 6th Grade: Top Ten series Reference shelves Search engines with clustering�clusty.com Ask.com

7. Great Tools for Refining Topics Clusty and Ask World Book Online- Table of Contents in books Wikipedia

8. Step 2: Plan Keywords for Research Warm-up continues Not a rush job Critical thinking opportunity Back-up plan for research Students expect easy answers Give up too easily reSEARCH

9. 3rd Grade

10. 4th Grade

11. 5th Grade

12. 6th Grade

13. Step 3: Pre-search Part of warm-up �Shopping time� �Hunting and gathering� time Well chosen sources ? all websites Pre-searches needn�t be lengthy One of each 3 different kinds of sources Teacher must set source expectations Reinforce Hierarchy of Research

14. Pop Quiz! Name the 5 main sources available to CB students. Next order them: where should students research first, second, third, etc.

15. Hierarchy of Sources 1. General Encyclopedia: Print or Online ---more bang for your buck/ Wikipedia wisdom 2. Specialized encyclopedias/Reference 3. Books and Magazines: Library Catalog Sources  Online Databases: collection of magazine, newspaper, photos, and/or encyclopedia articles online 5. Websites� located using search engines Verbage is important Reinforce cached search/ Start em� young!

16. Hierarchy Rationale

17. Hierarchy Manipulatives Envelopes with hierarchy components or Smart Notebook activity Game in packet Turkey game

18. Pre-search Document 6th Grade Assessment document Easily modified for various grade levels 5th: should use 6th grade assessment document 4th: Colonial sample 3rd: PA Wax museum sample Can be as simple as �find one, print one�

19. Evaluating Sources Scenario for Discussion: Without guidance or parameters you tell your students to �go research.� What would their strategy most likely be?

20.

21. Grade 4: The Four R�s

22. Evaluation tips Online Databases VS. Search engines�The Smackdown! Keep an eye on the numbers More is not better Noodletools: Choose the best search Need to understand WHY hierarchy important

23. This darned economy! Access to SIRS Discoverer No more Power Library No Nettrekker Try: www.LII.org More direct teaching of  domain suffixes 1 domain 2 and authority Search strategy more important: www.Iseek.com- More focused=more time to evaluate

24. Grade 6: CARRDSS Great video on Safari Montage http://safari.cbsd.org CARRDDS Websites only Taking evaluating to next level Students can discuss which are most important for current type of research Also RATE the source

25. Step 4: Read for Understanding Activity for students: Take notes on article without reading the article first Now, teach your partner what you learned RESEARCH

26. Step 5: Develop Research Questions CB research is inquiry based All writing= topic Research=questions All grades capable of question based 1st --What is China like? 2nd-- How were pueblos built and what uses did they have? 4th --Why is Ferdinand Magellan an  important explorer? 5th --How did Paul Revere change the American Revolution? 6th � Why was Blackbeard known to be one of the fiercest pirates?

27. Thick and Thin Questions AKA focus questions and content questions Thick/focus questions guide your paper Thin/content questions�note cards? paragraphs?slides

28. Don�t fear the questions Thick vs. Thin Questions Pizza theory for thin questions Which does not belong? Organizers in packet How Mrs. K teaches question development

29. Developing Questions(Developmentally) 2nd Grade: Provide thick question and three thin questions; students produce one thin 3rd: Provide thick question and students choose from large list of thin questions to see which work best for their topic: Egypt example 4th: Write thick question as a class; brainstorm thin questions in small groups and then choose from list 5th: Write thick and thin questions independently after guided lessons; revise with teacher and librarian 6th: Fine tune question writing skills

30. Editing and Revising Questions Questions not static�need revision Packet walk Question manipulatives Questioning Our Questions ppt. with worksheet

31. Authentic ? Pretty Give up a bit of control Focus on process not product Difficult to do 6th grade can fine tune products if�

32. Step 6: Set Up Note Taking Tools 4 Square Note cards Color coded note cards NOT copy book or lined paper Need guided tool

33. Step 7: Take Notes �It takes 15 years to develop experienced writing and note-taking skills.�(Scardamalia & Bereiter, 1991) 1st- beginning of 3rd: Keyword Research In 3rd---begin paraphrasing and summarizing Brainpop-mill_es1/magic1-Study and Reading Skills

34. Teaching Note Taking: Yikes! OSLIS site Say and Mean Grid Sample Guided Practice (4th)�i:drive/packet Country Lesson: Grade 6:in packet Paraphrasing Power Point Make a CASE for notes

35. Noodletools Note cards Possibility---wave of future http://www.noodletools.com

36. Plagiarism Top causes in elementary setting 1. Patchwriting 2. Searching vs. Researching -Confusion about research --see it as borrowing, not interpreting Sources for introducing to class: Rutgers Site �older kids love it/Introduction to Germany lesson

37. Step 8: Credit Sources Librarian takes lead role Needs to be reinforced in classroom setting Cannot just say �Do a bibliography.� Cannot skip bibliography Main sources: Encyclopedia Book Website Websites can be SCARY� ----let�s go for it!

38. 2 Websites Test me Google�Biography of Barack Obama for Kids: 2nd website

39. Noodletools God�s gift to librarians Librarian is leader Practical and real world Sign up for account

40. Step 9: Organize Information Outlining�Brainpop- Inspiration-Outlining tool Melissa will add more more after break

41. Step 10: Continue with Writing Process After lunch�

42. Image Credits BlankNotecard:http://www.dovinci.net/site/Cassina/Entries/2008/3/13_Photo_of_the_Day_files/BlankNotecard.png Power Library Image: www.delcolibraries.org/Databases_Full.htm Pencil Image: Microsoft Office clip art gallery Highlighter: http://www.catalystarts.wordpress.com Stretches: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1053044/How-stay-flexible-stretching-mind---body.html Berlin Wall: www.berlin101.com Stonehenge: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-451539/Stonehenge-built-Romans-great-British-myths.html Stamp Act: https://www.killeenisd.org/schools/Middle/ehms/MCD%208th%20webpages/chapter5/image.jpeg Hannah Penn: http://explorepahistory.com Blue Notecards: www.greenlightoffice.com Plagiarism Definition: http://www.davisenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/plagiarism.gif I Love Brainpop: www.brainpop.com/eduacators/blog Topics bulletin board: www.publicspeakingtip.org Crossroads: bigyellowtaxi.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/cro Remainder of images: Microsoft Office Clipart Gallery