Category: Deb Wahlstrom

This category contains posts written by Deb Wahlstrom.

February 27, 2012 Argument Writing, Cause and Effect, Common Core State Standards - English Language Arts, Common Core State Standards - Science Reading Literacy, Compare and Contrast, Content Cards, curriculum, curriculum alignment, Curriculum Development, Deb Wahlstrom, Deborah Wahlstrom Superintendent, Description, Informational Writing, Language Arts - WRITING, Literacy in the Disciplines, Literacy Standards for Science, Literacy Standards for Social Studies, Nonfiction Writing, Problem and Solution, Sequence, Unpacking Standards 10 Comments

Content Cards: Text Structures, Grades 9-12

Today’s post is Text Structures for Different Types of Writing.  I designed this tool for teachers, but there are many pages that will also be good resource materials for students.   In this handy guide, you’ll find a quick overview of the text types (i.e., Argumentative, Informational, Narrative) in the Common Core State Standards.  AFter that, I’ve included my content cards for the following five text structures: compare/contrast, cause/effect, problem/solution, sequence, and description.

Check these out to see if they are something you can use!  Here’s the link: http://datadeb.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/001_text_structures-deb-wahsltrom.pdf

February 4, 2012 Common Core State Standards - English Language Arts, Deb Wahlstrom, Deborah Wahlstrom Superintendent, Direct Teaching, Instructional Strategies, Kindergarten, Language Arts, Literacy in the Disciplines, Vocabulary, Vocabulary Strategies Post a Comment

Examples of Lessons for Teaching Vocabulary: ELA K-12

You already know how important it is to teach vocabulary.  You likely also know that we need to be directly teaching important vocabulary words.  I’ve provided these examples to give you an idea of ways you might structure lessons to teach vocabulary.  The examples are in a pdf format and ready for you to download and use.

Kindergarten Example:  Introducing Words in a Scene

Grades 01-02:  Words from The Little Fly and the Great Mouse

Grades 03-05:  Multiple Meaning Words

Grades 06-08:  Multiple Strategies for Recognizing Words

Grades 09-12:  Root Words

November 2, 2011 data analysis, Deb Wahlstrom, Using Data to Improve Student Achievement 3 Comments

New Cut Scores for Michigan’s MEAP and MME

It’s official.  You have likely heard that the new cut scores were coming.  Well they’re here.

When the MDE sent a memo out this week reminding everyone that historical data with the new cut scores attached would be released on Novemember 3, 2011 – I jumped into action.

I’ve put together a few materials that should be useful to you as you get to know your new cut scores.

DOWNLOAD THE 14 PAGE PDF HERE.  And do let me know if there’s anything else you need.

October 14, 2011 Deb Wahlstrom Post a Comment

Organizing Materials

You’ve likely seen this product on television.  It’s a Wonderfile!  I tested it out recently and liked it very much.  My test run was with an assortment of materials I put together for a Reading Playbook that I designed for students.  I wanted to have my most recent copy of the playbook, examples of the student pages, and background research – all  in one place.   I’m ordering more since I always have several ongoing projects in the works.

October 11, 2011 Argument Writing, Checking for Understanding, classroom assessment, Common Core State Standards - English Language Arts, curriculum, Curriculum Development, Deb Wahlstrom, Deborah Wahlstrom Superintendent, formative assessment, Language Arts - WRITING, Nonfiction Writing, Unpacking Standards Post a Comment

Write to the Text

 I am a fan of Kelly Gallagher’s Article of the Week.  His website is loaded with weekly articles you can use to give students interesting topics to which they can write.

I recently read an article in Education Week and asked the author, Anothy Cody, for permission to turn his article, Color Coded High School ID Cards Sort Students by Test Performance, into an assignment for students.

I set up the assignment in a modified version of Article of the Week.  I modified the directions and numbered each of the lines in the text.   The numbered lines support students in citing the text during classroom discussions.

Download the assignment:  Assignment:  Argumentative Paper

The assignment includes a Writing Checklist, which you can download separately.

September 22, 2011 Analysis Questions, Building Background Knowledge, Checking for Understanding, Common Core State Standards - English Language Arts, Concept attainment, Content Cards, curriculum, curriculum alignment, Curriculum Development, Deb Wahlstrom, Deborah Wahlstrom Superintendent, formative assessment, Graphic Organizers, Informational Writing, instruction, Instructional Strategies, Language Arts, Language Arts - WRITING, Literacy in the Disciplines, Literacy Standards for Science, Literacy Standards for Social Studies, Nonfiction Writing, Reading to Learn, Unpacking Standards, Vocabulary Strategies, Writing to Learn Post a Comment

Content Card – Details, Details, Details

Details and examples are one of those areas that students have struggled with when writing.  Being able to cite details and examples is a skill that is valuable in reading, writing, thinking, and speaking.  What are some of the things we might want to make sure students learn when we ask them to think about details and examples?  We might want them to know what kinds of things are details: facts, quotes, statistics, firgurative language, the information in a visual, sensory details, and more.  We also want students to know some of the things they can do with details:  compare and contrast ideas, support a point of view, oppose a point of view, make a decision, describe a character, make inferences, make prediections, and more.  As always, I’ve got a pdf copy for you – just print it out and share it with your students (and fellow educators).

Content Card, Details

Analysis Questions, Common Core State Standards - Science Reading Literacy, Content Cards, Deb Wahlstrom, Deborah Wahlstrom Superintendent, formative assessment, Graphic Organizers, Instructional Strategies, Literacy Standards for Science, Nonfiction Writing, Science, Unpacking Standards, Vocabulary 4 Comments

Common Core Standards for Literacy in Science (Reading, 9-10)

I’ve been working on collecting ideas for content-area literacy.  I began with the reading standards for science, grades 9-10 from the Common Core State Standards.

Download a pdf version of the 28-page document and see if there’s an idea or two you can use.

Informational Literacy Standards for Science – FRESH LINK, Updated September 27, 2011.

Informational Literacy Standards for Science, Updated 09.19.2011

September 3, 2011 21st Century Skills, All, America Diploma Project - Math, Checking for Understanding, Common Core - Mathematics, Deb Wahlstrom, Deborah Wahlstrom Superintendent, formative assessment, instruction, Instructional Strategies, Language Arts, Literacy Standards for Science, Literacy Standards for Social Studies, Mathematics, Nonfiction Writing, Reading to Learn, Review Strategies, Science, Social Studies, Vocabulary Post a Comment

Motor Mouth Review

 Motor Mouth is simply an engaging strategy for students to review important vocabulary.  This can be used in any class at any grade level.  Did I mention that this is also fun?

I’ve included the PowerPoint with directions and a template that is ready to modify for your own use.

Click here for the Powerpoint!

November 7, 2010 21st Century Skills, Checking for Understanding, classroom assessment, data analysis, Deb Wahlstrom, Deborah Wahlstrom Superintendent, Exit Slip, formative assessment, Instructional Strategies, Nonfiction Writing, Reading to Learn, Using Data to Improve Student Achievement, Writing to Learn 2 Comments

Exit Slips

Exit slips are as tool to check for understanding and get a sense of where your kids are on just about any topic you want.  They are so easy to implement.

I’ve written basic directions and examples for using exit slips in your classroom.

Don’t let this idea slip away!

Click here to download the three-page document for working with exit slips.