Reading and Technology - Middle Grades
Integrating reading and literacy into content area secondary classrooms can involve fiction and should absolutely involve information texts and information literacy. When older students read to learn they should use a variety of texts and use text to answer questions. In particular, the Common Core State Standards have an emphasis on reading informational text in all content areas at the secondary level (even mathematics - statistics and probability) and the North Carolina Information and Technology Essential Standards should be integrated by all teachers. The NC ITES include using varying sources of information and analyzing sources as well as utilizing a research process - these learning goals are all dependent on student literacy.
One version of the method in the infographic above:
Data CollectionGo to http://www.gapminder.org - select "Gapminder World" and select play to watch the original gapminder visualization. Develop a set of questions around this data. Examples:
Click on "Data" to play more data visualizations. Let's use Lino.it to create some questions: Click here to get started! Go to http://online.culturegrams.com and log in. Choose any of the editions and go to "Graphs and Tables" to create your own data table. Develop a set of questions based on the comparative data results. |
Informational TextUse databases to ensure reliable results:
Teach advanced Google searching tips and website evaluation. In CultureGrams, use the provided research Use formative assessment to verify student reading - exit passes, quick summary activities, pair and share, etc. |
Note-Taking/Organizing
Graphic Organizers - KWL Charts, Cornell Notes, Jim Burke Organizers
Interactive Online Organizers - Read Write Think Cube Bubbl.us |
Produce Something Great!
|