What Have
I Learned?

Works that allow students to express
and reflect upon their own life experiences

Works that inform and explain in a unique way

Works that force students to take a stance or
"judge" something as being good or bad

Works in which a student "wrestles" with
a question and hooks the reader with the
problem and allows reader to observe

Works that challenge students to analyze and
interpret topics that are difficult to understand

Works in which students take a particular position
and attempt to persuade readers to agree with
their stance

MODEL, MODEL, MODEL

As a teacher, model the strategy

Show students mentor texts
from real-world situations

Give students samples of writing, and have them hunt for the various purposes of writing (6 branches of What to Write)

Venturing outside the textbook

Using real world samples that affect
young students' daily lives

Using a variety of sources

Textbook

Magazines

Newspaper Articles

Websites

Combine disciplines

Not to pass a test, but rather to gather
information and apply knowledge

Teacher selects some of the readings,
while also allowing for students to make
own choices

Differentiate texts for various students

Allow opportunities for collaborative work

Make reading a social activity rather than solitary activity

Assessment relies less on quizzes and tests and
more on complex projects/perfomances, etc.