Transcript Brook_Taff_EDCI_691_Presentation

EDCI 691 Culminating Project
Improving the Study of Current
Events in a Seventh Grade
World History Classroom
Brook Taff
California State University, Bakersfield
November 9, 2010
Introduction
 The purpose of this project was to improve the
process of teaching current events to my world
history students at Actis Junior High.
 I wanted to teach students about the news while
strengthening their reading and writing skills.
 The project included two student surveys, an English
teacher survey, and six units of study.
English Teacher Survey
 This survey was completed by 7 of the 12 English Teachers.
 Recommended Skills:
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locating details/incorporating details in the summary
writing in paragraph form using complete sentences
writing a topic sentence
using correct spelling and grammar
commenting upon an article
 Recommended Resources:
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AVID Weekly (www.avidweekly.org)
AVID Critical Reading Textbook
Holt Textbook
AVID Weekly
 www.avidweekly.org
 This subscription website includes monthly articles and
critical reading strategies.
 AVID Weekly resources used in the project:
 “Writing and Drawing in the Margins”
 “Summarizing Sections of Expository Texts”
Holt Textbook
 Literature and Language Arts: First Course
 This book was newly adopted by the Panama-Buena Vista
Union School District for the 2010-2011 school year.
 The book includes a section about summarizing, taking notes,
and outlining.
 Holt resources used in the project:
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“Framework for Summary”
“Prewriting: Recall Details”
AVID Critical Reading Text
 Critical Reading: Deep Reading Strategies for
Expository Texts by Jonathan LeMaster
 This text includes templates and strategies to help
students with reading comprehension.
 Critical Reading resource used in the project:
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“Predicting the Main Idea”
September Student Survey
 This survey was completed by 80 of the 103 students
in my four world history classes.
 Questions focused on students’ favorite types of
news, their favorite sources for news, and areas in
which they would like to improve.
Favorite Types of News
(September Student Survey)
What types of news are you interested in?
(check as many as you like)
local (Bakersfield, California)
31
state (California)
13
national (United States)
21
world news
27
health
18
sports
33
weather
16
entertainment
41
science and technology
15
nature and animals
30
other
13
none of these
2
0
10
20
30
40
50
Number of Respondents (out of 80)
60
70
80
Main Sources of News
(September Student Survey)
Where do you normally look for news?
(you may check all places in which you look for news)
TV
52
radio
4
internet
50
newspaper
28
news magazines
9
other
5
I do not look for news
5
no answer
1
0
10
20
30
40
50
Number of Respondents (out of 80)
60
70
80
Areas for Improvement
(September Student Survey)
Please check the areas in which you would like to improve this year
(you may check as many areas as needed):
finding interesting news in the
newspaper
16
finding interesting news online
25
understanding the news
13
reading skills
14
summarizing skills
27
learning more about the community,
nation, and/or world
29
28
other
none
11
no answer
1
0
10
20
30
40
50
Number of Respondents (out of 80)
60
70
80
Six Units of Study
 After analysis of the teacher and student surveys, I
developed six units of study to teach about summary
skills and current events.
 The first three units focused on summary skills with
the use of standards-based articles.
 The second three units focused on finding news in
the newspaper, using Microsoft Word to type a
current event assignment, and finding news online.
Units 1, 2, and 3: Summarizing Articles
 Unit 1: Archaeologists find Theater Box at Herod’s Palace
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www.npr.org
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resources: “Predicting the Main Idea” (AVID Critical Reading), “Summarizing
Sections of Expository Texts” (AVID Weekly), current event requirements sheet
 Unit 2: Northwest Saudi Arabia Vulnerable to Volcanoes: Study
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www.arabnews.com
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resources: “Prewriting: Recall Details” (Holt Textbook), current event requirements
sheet, current event checklist
 Unit 3: Treasure Hunter finds Rare Antique in Cumbria and Rare
Roman Helmet found in Cumbria Auctioned for £2m.
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www.bbc.co.uk/news
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resources: “Writing and Drawing in the Margins” (AVID Weekly), current event
requirements sheet, current event checklist
Units 4, 5, and 6: Locating and Typing Current Events
 Unit 4: Finding News in the Newspaper
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resources: Cornell Notes, front page of USA Today, print copy of The
Bakersfield Californian
 Unit 5: Typing a Current Event
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resource: instruction sheet for Microsoft Word
 Unit 6: Finding News Online
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resources: web evaluation sheet, list of online news sites,
Today’s Front Pages (www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages)
November Student Survey Results
 This survey was completed by 75 students in my four
world history classes.
 The survey focused on:
 students’ favorite print sources for news
 students’ discussions with others
 areas of improvement
 areas in which students need more work
Print Sources for News
What is your favorite source for reading about the news?
news magazines
3%
newspaper
24%
newspaper
internet
news magazines
internet
73%
Discussions with Family
Since we started learning about current events in class, do you talk to your family
about news more, less, or the same amount?
same
37%
more
42%
more
less
same
less
21%
Areas of Improvement
In which areas have you improved this year?
(you may check more than one)
finding interesting news in the
newspaper
31
finding interesting news online
36
33
understanding the news
reading skills
30
43
summarizing skills
learning more about the community,
nation, and/or world
39
other
29
5
none
0
10
20
30
40
50
Number of Respondents (out of 75)
60
70
Areas for Further Improvement
In which areas do you need more work?
(you may check more than one)
finding interesting news in the
newspaper
15
finding interesting news online
19
8
understanding the news
reading skills
10
18
summarizing skills
learning more about the community,
nation, and/or world
15
other
13
20
none
0
10
20
30
40
50
Number of Respondents (out of 75)
60
70
Next Steps
 There will be a four-week Academic Intervention program with
focus on summary skills using AVID Weekly for all Actis students.
 I will continue to use the current event requirements and current
event checklist with my history classes for the weekly current event
assignments.
 I will help students throughout the year with:
 spelling and typing skills
 forming opinions about the news
 finding news online
 finding news in the newspaper
 I will continue to share interesting news with students.
 I am also planning a “Current Event Day” celebration.
Thank You
Brook Taff
[email protected]