- I can link ideas in my poetry presentation with linking words and phrases. (W.4.2c, W.4.5)
- I can use precise language and vocabulary to explain what inspired me to write my poem. (W.4.2d, W.4.5)
- I can read a new poem aloud fluently. (R.4.4, R.4.4a, R.4.4b, R.4.4c)
These are the CCS Standards addressed in this lesson:
- RF.4.4: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
- RF.4.4a: Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.
- RF.4.4b: Read grade-level prose and poetry orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings.
- RF.4.4c: Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary.
- W.4.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
- W.4.2c: Link ideas within categories of information using words and phrases (e.g., another, for example, also, because).
- W.4.2d: Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
- W.4.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
- W.4.5: With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing.
- SL.4.4: Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
Daily Learning Targets
Ongoing Assessment
- Revised poetry presentation (W.4.2c, W.4.2d, W.4.5)
Agenda
Agenda | Teaching Notes |
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1. Opening A. Reviewing Learning Targets (5 minutes) 2. Work Time A. Analyzing a Model: Linking Words and Phrases and Precise Vocabulary (20 minutes) B. Writing a Poetry Presentation: Peer Critique and Revision (20 minutes) 3. Closing and Assessment A. Reading Fluency Practice (15 minutes) 4. Homework A. Reading fluency practice. Choose a poem or an excerpt of a poem in your Unit 3 Homework to read aloud for fluency. B. If available, prepare some photographs, video, or objects of what inspired you to write your poem to bring in for the next lesson. C. Accountable Research Reading. Select a prompt and respond in the front of your independent reading journal. |
Purpose of lesson and alignment to standards:
How it builds on previous work:
Areas in which students may need additional support:
Assessment guidance:
Down the road:
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In Advance
- Post the learning targets.
- Strategically pair students for Work Times A and B with at least one stronger reader. Consider whether students can remain in the same pairings from Work Time or whether new partnerships will need to be created. For reading fluency in Closing and Assessment, students should be paired with someone reading the same excerpt.
- Determine how much of the poem to give to each student for reading fluency and prepare accordingly. A recommendation would be to give most students just the first stanza, and students who require an extension the entire poem.
- Review the Think-Pair-Share and Red Light, Green Light protocols. See Classroom Protocols.
- Post: Learning targets, Performance Task anchor chart, Working to Become Effective Learners, Peer Critique anchor chart, and Working to Become Ethical People anchor chart
Tech and Multimedia
- Work Time A: For students who will benefit from hearing the text read aloud multiple times, consider using a text to speech tool such as Natural Reader, SpeakIt! for Google Chrome or the Safari reader. Note that to use a web based text to speech to tool such as SpeakIt! or Safari reader, you will need to create an online doc--for example, a Google Doc, containing the text
- Work Time B: Students revise their poetry presentations using word-processing software--for example, a Google Doc.
- Closing and Assessment A: Record students reading aloud for them to listen back to using audio or video recording software or apps such as Audacity or GarageBand. If available, you may consider using a microphone to ensure a good-quality recording.
Supporting English Language Learners
Supports guided in part by CA ELD Standards 4.I.A.4, 4.I.C.9, 4.I.C.10, 4.I.C.11, 4.I.C.12, 4.II.A.1, 4.II.A.2, and 4.II.C.6
Important points in the lesson itself
- The basic design of this lesson supports ELLs by making linking language explicit. Understanding how linking language works is a key entry point into complex texts and the English-language system.
- ELLs may find using linking words challenging as they are given 17 linking words and phrases in this lesson. ELLs may not have learned or may not remember the meaning of most of them. Consider highlighting one or two examples of effective use of linking words and one or two examples for improvement in ELL texts in advance.
Levels of support
For lighter support:
- Invite students to substitute linking phrases that are synonymous with the linking phrases on the Linking Words and Phrases handout. (e.g., For example = For instance)
- Invite students to work as the expert in home language groups with students who need heavier support. The expert can explain how to use key English linking language such as and, also, another, and so in contrast with the usage in the home language. Provide the expert with simple sentences to link as a demonstration for other students.
For heavier support:
- To use linking words effectively, ELLs need to begin to understand the English clause system. This concept may be new and possibly overwhelming for students. Unlike English, not all languages require a subject and a predicate to form an independent clause. However, nearly all languages use coordinating conjunctions to connect clauses. Use these facts as a departure point for talking with ELLs about English clauses. In general, students need to know that linking words can connect two independent clauses or an independent and a dependent clause. Remind them about their work in Units 1 and 2 on subject-predicates, independent clauses, and writing complete sentences. Be explicit about these grammar terms (or use equivalent terms, such as complete thought for independent clause and incomplete thought for dependent clause). Reassure students and encourage them to do their best, emphasizing that learning these terms and concepts will help them write clearly over time.
- Consider lightening the load for ELLs by highlighting the most frequently used linking phrases in the model poetry presentation and those that may be most useful in student texts (e.g., and, also, another, so). Consider providing time for ELLs to use their online or paper translation dictionary to translate the words.
- Provide routine practice with identifying independent clauses, dependent clauses, and the linking words that connect them. Example:
- "What's a good linking word or phrase to complete this sentence from Frederick? It was cold in the hall, _____ no one felt like chatting." (and)
- "What are the subject and predicates?" (It-was cold; no one-felt like chatting)
- Which is the independent clause, and which is dependent?" (Both are independent because they are complete thoughts and make sense on their own. It was cold in the hall. No one felt like chatting.)
- Remove the linking words from a copy of the model essay, substituting the words with blank lines, and allow ELLs to add the correct linking word back into the blanks.
Universal Design for Learning
- Multiple Means of Representation (MMR): One of the learning targets in this lesson is to identify places in the poem that require linking words. Students will need to identify points in their own writing as well as their peers' where linking words are appropriate. Help students comprehend the meaning of the word link in the context of this learning goal. For instance, have them physically link arms and discuss how that imagery relates to their writing. Additionally, brainstorm a list of linking words and their meanings. Chart this information so students can reference it as they work.
- Multiple Means of Action and Expression (MMAE): During the fluency section of this lesson, students prepare for their end of unit assessment. To help students make the most out of this fluency practice, think about individualizing their activities. For instance, some students may benefit from sketching parts of the poem to increase comprehension. Additionally, you may want to do choral reading led by differentiated peer mentors or the instructor. You may also want to select another poem at the students' reading level if the selection is above their independent reading level.
- Multiple Means of Engagement (MME): Students will be asked to provide and receive peer critique in this lesson. For students who may need additional support with writing, this may be a stressful exercise. Build a supportive and inclusive classroom environment by reminding students that they are all working on becoming better writers. Be sure to praise growth and development rather than relative performance.
Vocabulary
Key: Lesson-Specific Vocabulary (L); Text-Specific Vocabulary (T); Vocabulary Used in Writing (W)
- link ideas, precise (L)
Materials
- Performance Task anchor chart (begun in Unit 1, Lesson 1)
- Linking and Words and Phrases model (one per student and one to display)
- Linking and Words and Phrases model (example, for teacher reference)
- Working to Become Effective Learners anchor chart (begun in Unit 2, Lesson 1)
- Sticky notes (two colors, preferably blue and orange; five of each color per student)
- Linking Words and Phrases handout (one per student and one to display)
- Working to Become Ethical People anchor chart (begun in Unit 1, Lesson 2)
- Peer Critique anchor chart (new; co-created with students during Work Time B)
- Peer Critique anchor chart (example, for teacher reference)
- Highlighters (blue and orange; one of each per student)
- Directions for Peer Critique (one to display)
- Poetry presentations (begun in Lessons 4; one per student)
- Red, yellow, and green objects (one of each per student)
- Reading Fluency Poem 3 (one per student)
- Fluent Readers Do These Things anchor chart (begun in Lesson 4)
- Fluent Readers Do These Things handout (from Lesson 5; optional; for students needing additional support)
Materials from Previous Lessons
New Materials
Assessment
Each unit in the 3-5 Language Arts Curriculum has two standards-based assessments built in, one mid-unit assessment and one end of unit assessment. The module concludes with a performance task at the end of Unit 3 to synthesize their understanding of what they accomplished through supported, standards-based writing.
Opening
Opening | Meeting Students' Needs |
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A. Reviewing Learning Targets (5 minutes)
"I can link ideas in my poetry presentation with linking words and phrases." "I can use precise language and vocabulary to explain what inspired me to write my poem." "I can read a new poem aloud fluently."
"What does it mean to link ideas? Why is this important in a presentation?" (connect ideas to show a clear through line in a presentation so that the audience always understands the point/main idea you are making and how each new idea you present is connected to that main idea)
"So, do you mean _____?" (Responses will vary.)
"What does precise mean? Why is it important to use precise language and vocabulary in a presentation?" (exact and accurate, and it is important to be exact and accurate in a presentation so that the audience walks away understanding the point you were trying to make)
"What is the purpose of this presentation?" (to present our poems and to explain what inspired us to write the poems and where you can see evidence of that inspiration in the poetry)
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Work Time
Work Time | Meeting Students' Needs |
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A. Analyzing a Model: Linking Words and Phrases and Precise Vocabulary (20 minutes)
"What do you notice about the difference in how they sound?" (Example 1 is very jolting--stops and starts--while the second flows better.) "Why does Example 2 flow more smoothly? Can you identify any specific words or phrases in Example 2 that aren't in Example 1?" (linking words and phrases like and and so.) Refer to Linking Words and Phrases model (example, for teacher reference) as necessary.
"What differences do you notice?" Refer to Linking Words and Phrases model (example, for teacher reference).
"What does the word and help us to understand? How does it change the meaning?" (And helps us understand that the poet was inspired to write about his horse because he spends a lot of time with him. It changes the meaning because without and we don't understand that spending a lot of time with the horse inspired him. It was a sentence on its own before like it wasn't connected.)
"What does the word particularly help us to understand? How does it change the meaning?" (Particularly helps us understand that the poet may love many things about his horse, but one thing he likes a lot is to watch him run. Without particularly, we could believe that he only loves to watch his horse run.)
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"Think back on how we linked arms. How are our linked arms similar to our linked ideas when we write?" (Responses will vary, but may include: Linking words connect our ideas into a unified sentence or presentation like our linked arms connect students into a unified class.)
"Why are linking words and phrases important?" (to make writing clearer, help the reader go easily from one idea to the next, and explain how one idea makes sense with the next idea)
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B. Writing a Poetry Presentation: Peer Critique and Revision (20 minutes)
"Why do we peer critique? How does it help?" (It gives us a second pair of eyes on our work to see things we missed. Peers also have different strengths, so they can help us with things we find challenging.) "What is the purpose of giving peer feedback? Why is it more effective than revising our own work alone?" (It helps someone else improve his or her work, and it is better than trying to do it on your own because sometimes you can't see your own mistakes, and someone else can see them more clearly.)
"Can you give an example?" (Responses will vary.)
"How can we effectively give peer feedback? What things should we think about and be aware of? What strategies can we use?" "What does this look like? What does this sound like?"
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Closing & Assessments
Closing | Meeting Students' Needs |
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A. Reading Fluency Practice (15 minutes)
"What do you think this poem is about? Why?" (Student responses will vary, but may include that it is about losing someone special.)
"What do you think inspired this poet? What evidence from the poem can you see to support your claim?" (It was inspired by someone very important or special to him that he found and then lost. He says, "I found you and I lost you.")
"Who can repeat what your classmate said?" (Responses will vary.)
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Homework
Homework | Meeting Students' Needs |
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A. Reading fluency practice. Choose a poem or an excerpt of a poem in your Unit 3 Homework to read aloud for fluency. B. If available, prepare some photographs, video, or objects of what inspired you to write your poem to bring in for the next lesson. C. Accountable Research Reading. Select a prompt and respond in the front of your independent reading journal. |
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