this is what we were told last year. creating a graphic organizer is a great way to start.
1. 1 paragraph only
1st sent- restate the prompt and end the sent with 'for many reasons' or 'in many ways'
2. sent 2-10- find 3 text references that support the prompt. always include key words or direct quotes. explain what it quote means in your own words. Then explain why you know this text reference works for the prompt.
3. sent 11,12- use an example from your prior knowledge. you need only 1. if you put more examples, the kids will most likely go on a tangent. then, explain how you know this knowledge works for the prompt.
4. sent 13- concluding sent- restate the prompt in another way. do include 'these examples show' or 'in conclusion'
I have attached the graphic organizer that I will be using with my 6th graders. We were also told that highlighter (3 different colors) is also useful. Each color represents a section of the ERR. For instance, the kids would would trade their papers and highlight in blue everytime a text reference was used. Pink would be used for interpretations. And yellow would be for experience. This shows the kids if they are keeping balanced or where they are too heavy or light. Hope this helps.
I just attended a workshop that was presented by one of the ladies that helped write the reading ISAT test. She stated that the committee was going to meet this week to discuss the results because that were so few 3s and 4s. They're going to look at changing the test somehow to help improve the scores, but we won't see any actual changes until 2010 at the earliest.
In the meanwhile, she gave us a ton of activities and a graphic organizer to use with the kids to prepare them. But, I left the information at school. I will bring it home and post her ideas for you.
I do remember that she was very much into QAR and teaching the students the types of questions. I also remember her saying that they are expected to infer and visualize a lot for the test. One of the biggest downfalls that students didn't do was explain how their connection or conclusion helped them understand the text reference. I know there was a lot more, so I will get back to you about it.
Since I teach 6th Reading, each of the core teachers (Science, Social Studies and Math) are responsible to teaching it. So the kids get a different response once a week. Right now, we are doing it whole group. Next month, they will be doing it in pairs. By December, they are on their own. Also- we pull selective ones for the kids to grade and to make suggestions on how to improve.
I would love to have the handouts. I teach 3rd grade and only had 3 students get a 4 on the extended response. We spent a lot of time practicing, but it is so hard to get 3rd graders to infer. How do we get them to tell how the inference or connection helped them to understand the text???
It is so hard to get kids to understand some of the stories, let alone answer an extended response and include thier own prior knowledge. Many of my kids have no prior knowledge about the subjects. I could also use the help.
I too would appreciate any handouts you have from the workshop you attended. I use the practice tests from the state board, which gives good examples, but there is no way to know how to teach them. I also believe the examples they show are much better than most 4th graders can write. I have struggled with this and I do believe I do better every year, but there is really no guidance on how best to prepare our students.
I know its later in the year. Just sitting here going back and trying to see if I missed anything that would better help prepare my students and I saw your posting. If you are able to send your organizers still I would be one happy teacher
Enjoy your weekend.
I would greatly appreciate any teaching materials that you might have to work with third, fourth and fifth graders on extended response skills. I am working with bilingual students so getting them to write any sentence that makes sense is so difficult. HELP!!!
I just utilized your handout with third graders and will be doing so with 4th graders. It was very helpful and informative and put into words what I have been trying to express to my teachers. Thanks you. beck50
(THis is kind of a late response but I was just looking for some practice examples and thought that you might need some help).
I am in 8th grade, my teacher has taught us a formula that got about 76percent of her students to get a "4". The formula is,
C-(connection-text to self(you can make it up!))P3
E-(extension, or lesson learned/disney channel ending)P4
*****We memorize this by using this chant, I-cicles E-ww I-cicles E-ww I C-ried I-n E-urope******