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Programs and Projects
Research Reading and Writing
OVERVIEW:
Expose students to nonfiction topics. Have them investigate and
report in writing to demonstrate comprehension.
THE ROLE OF THE EDUCATOR IS:
- to use mini-lessons to teach processes
- to teach about plagiarism and how to avoid it
- to allow students to work in groups, pairs, or individually
- to use the writer’s workshop for documenting what is
learned
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WHAT VISITORS WILL SEE:
- use in all subject areas
- educators use a process of mini-lessons, reading, writing, revising,
and publishing
- students engaged in projects they are interested in
- documentation of students strengths and needs
HOW IT WORKS:
- Choose the right topic.
- Make a project plan.
- Start with what you know.
- Look for sources.
- Research, research, research.
- Organize and interpret.
- Give a great presentation.
- Learn from the experience.
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CLASSROOM APPLICATIONS:
The K-W-L procedure (Ogle, 1986) involves students in activating
prior knowledge, asking questions to set purposes, and recording
information that answer those questions.
For many research projects, the K-W-L works well to help students
develop research reading and writing.
For example, if the unit is on Martin Luther King, Jr., the steps
are:
- Provide a graphic organizer that shows K for what we know about
Dr. King, W for what we want to learn about Dr. King, and L for
what we learned (after doing research).
- Activate prior knowledge about Dr. King by having students
brainstorm what they know about him, and write this on large white
paper under “Know.”
- Using the information discussed, have students generate questions
in the “Want to Know” column. Additional questions
may be added as all read more information. For example, one student
wanted to know more information on the person who killed Dr. King.
- As students read, they make note of the area to learn, and document
what they learn on the large white paper.
- After finding the information, students can work individually,
in pairs, or in groups to write this information in a piece, using
the writer’s process to write, give feedback, revise, edit,
and publish the writing.
K-W-L example with MLK:
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MATERIALS:
True Stories: Nonfiction Literacy in the Primary Classroom
By Christine Duthie
Nonfiction Matters: Reading, Writing, and Research in Grades 3-8
By Stephanie Harvey
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A GOOD PLACE TO START:
Many non-fiction book and magazines, as well as Web sites, are
perfect for research reading and writing. For a unit on Martin Luther
King, Jr,, I would suggest books like America in the Time of
Martin Luther King, Jr: 1948 to 1976 by Sally Senzell
Isaacs and The Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
by R. Conrad Stein.
Good magazines include:
- Cobblestones: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights
Movement
- Footsteps: Martin Luther King, Jr: Morehouse Year
- Kids Discover: Martin Luther King, Jr.
SUPPORTIVE RESEARCH AND DESCRIPTIVE LITERATURE:
Allen, C. A. The Multigenre Research Paper: Voice, Passion,
and Discovery in Grades 4-6. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, c2001.
Duthie, C. True Stories: Nonfiction Literacy in the Primary
Classroom. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers, c1996.
Harvey, S. Nonfiction Matters: Reading, Writing, and Research
in Grades 3-8. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers, c1998.
Rogovin, P. The Research Workshop: Bringing the World into
Your Classroom. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, c1997.
Stead, T. Is That a Fact? Teaching Nonfiction Writing K-3.
Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers, c2002.
Welsh-Charrier, C. "Conducting Research—When the End
Is the Means." Perspectives
in Education and Deafness, 17:5, (May/June 1999).
CLERC CENTER RESOURCES:
Welsh-Charrier, C. "Conducting Research—When the End
Is the Means." Perspectives
in Education and Deafness, 17:5, (May/June 1999).
Research
Reading & Writing (Odyssey, Summer 2000) (PDF)
WEB RESOURCES:
KidBibs
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