This Fall we will focus on the following:
1) Text-Dependent Analysis (TDA) writing: This mode of writing is introduced to public school students in 4th grade, and students are required to perform this mode of writing on all PSSA exams they take from that grade level and on. Analysis is a tough skill for fourth grade students to grasp, and a common trend shows that students don't perform this mode well until 8th grade...if they get enough practice. I will spend the first month this Fall scaffolding this skill to students as we look at sample prompts, sample essays, and read short stories we will respond to TDA writing prompts for. If students master this style of writing, they will have success in analytical essays they will be expected to write in independent schools.
2) Nonfiction Signposts of Literature: For the remainder of the Fall semester, I will teach students Nonfiction Signposts. These signposts are things to look for in nonfiction/information text, a type of text students need to become as familiar with as possible considering it will be the most common type of text they will be required to interact with across all courses in their education. They will be taught a new signpost each week that we will look for in a different information text to practice. At the end of the semester, we will look at one text where they can use all signposts for as a summative assessment for the semester.
Please feel free to contact me with questions at:
fameacademy.literacy@famefund.org
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