In my English clinical class they were beginning to discuss Folklore and Urban Legends. The students had a pretty dense reading that he had given them and as a reading strategy taught them the Frayer model. I wasn't expecting this transition but after I saw him do it, it worked really well! Especially when what they were reading was about one specific thing. He drew it up on the board and then the students were to read, take notes, and create their own Frayer model. Afterwards, they put together a class-created Frayer model.
I really liked how he did this because when a text is more informational/concept based texts, it gives students an opportunity to go through each section and "define" the information. (I could see this being difficult with novels...)
Now that I am talking about it, I realized that vocabulary strategies are just essentially reading strategies. Yes there are some strategies that are use more for vocabulary quizzes and just knowing the words, but mostly where we are introduced to vocabulary necessary we find in informational texts.
The nice part about Frayer models (or most reading/vocab strategies) is that they are cross-media. So I have teeny-tiny homework. I challenge to whoever responds to this blog to, on a sheet of paper draw a Frayer model, and fill it in as you are watching the video about Natural Selection (you might have to watch it once or twice, it is just that epic). Then in your comment just leave a little blurb about what you got in each section.
Okay, I know I am an English major, but I can still enjoy this pretty awesome video! And Biology majors...no cheating!
I'd never thought about using strategies in ways they weren't initially designed for but I think it's a great way to show our students that they can use any strategy in any circumstance. Students need to realize that the things we teach them can be used in all sorts of different places, not just in the classroom. Using different strategies in different circumstances can help them see this.
ReplyDeleteIn my Frayer model about the YouTube clip, I wrote that natural selection is when each animal evolves to blend with its surroundings, that the idea was developed by Darwin, and everything living is an example of how it works. (The clip was pretty great, by the way).
I wish I was there to see that! I love it when teachers are creative and adapt different instructional tools to meet the needs of their students and the demands of particular texts. Thanks for a great posting!
ReplyDeleteI love how you say that vocab strategies are essentially reading strategies. It's so true! I think so many kids see learning as they will either "get it" or they won't. I like approaching learning as a skill that needs to be practiced. It takes the unknown variables out of learning by telling kids that they can learn, it just takes practice and a strategy.
ReplyDeleteI love that you included this video. LOL. I also really like the Frayer model used for reading. I think that it can work really well if used with the right content. Plus I always think it is awesome when I see something I have learned about in a class at USU be used in the "real world".
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