Learning Perspectives for Special Students

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Learning Perspectives for Special Students

• Susan Werner
• Unity Junior High School East
• Cicero School District 99
• Cicero
• SWerner_at_cicd99.edu

Collaboratory Project Symposium
Northwestern University, Evanston IL May
4, 2007
07/12/99
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Northwestern University
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Project Goals/Objectives

• Learning Disabled and Emotional/Behaviorally
  Disturbed Students used the ePortfolios to write
  and revise Extended Response and Narrative,
  Expository, and Persuasive Essays all year.
• Learning Objectives
• organize their ideas
• locate information
• write multi-paragraph essays
• revise and proofread essays
• make writing interesting and fun

07/12/99
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Northwestern University
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Student accomplishments

• Multi-paragraph essays
• Organized essays
• Essays which answered the Extended Response
  question asked
• Students revising and proofreading their essays
• Students enjoying writing

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Collaboratory Resources

• ePortfolios
• Students have four folders containing
  ePortfolios
• Extended Responses
• Narrative Essays
• Expository Essays
• Persuasive Essays
• Each folder contained ePortfolios with various
  essay topics
• Essays were written and revised in these
  portfolios
• Cybraries
• Provide links to web sites for research for
  topics on expository essays

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Extended Responses

• Writing Extended Responses online helps
  students prepare for ISATS.
• Students write longer, more developed essays.
• Students read stories, then used venn diagrams to
  outline ideas before writing the essays online.
• Students revise essays based on comments typed
  online in ePortfolios.

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Eighth Grade Extended Response Topics

• After Twenty Years
• Comparing the policeman and the thief
• Solo Voyage
• Comparing the ways a sailor who sailed around the
  world prepared for and made his dream a reality
  and students own dreams
• The Tell-Tale Heart
• Is the narrator crazy?

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Tell-Tale Heart Rough Draft
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Sample Tell-Tale Heart Essay
Screen Shot of Jescindas Final Draft
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Sample After Twenty Years Essay

• ScreenShot of Jose Mariscals essay -- -- Final
  Draft

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Narrative Topics

• Cool Places
•   Holiday Traditions 
•   Introducing Classmates 
•   My Favorite Things 
•   Pets 
•   Seasonal Activities 
•   Shopping Spree 
•   Trips and Special Events

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Narrative Outline
E. Why did this happen? F. Why was it
important to you? G. How did you feel about
it?

• A. When did this happen?
• B. Where did it happen?C. Who was there?
• D. What happened?
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.

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Sample Narrative Essay
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Expository Essay Topics

• Each of these topics is a project
• Early 20th Century Presidents 
• Food How-To Essays 
• Getting to Know the Explorers 
• Hobbies and Games 
• Holidays Around the World 
• Investigating Biomes 
• Science Essays 
• Social Studies Essays

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Collaboratory Resources

• These Topic Projects involve research so we use
  the Cybraries which provide links to web sites
  the students can read which answer the questions
  on their study guides. Many of these are
  interdisciplinary projects.

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Holidays Around the World Project Study Guide

• Countrys Name
• Location
• Major Celebrations
• What they do
• What they eat
• How they decorate
• What special things do they make?
• What do they do on Christmas Eve?
• What do they do on Christmas Day?
• What do they do on January 6?

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Sample Expository Essay
Joseph Zs Christmas in Germany Essay Christmas
in Germany (Dated January)
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President Project Study Guide

• Presidents name Years lived
• Where did he grow up? Where did he go to
  school?
• Family?
• What jobs did he hold before becoming president?
• What years was he president?
• What was his political party?
• What were his goals and/or projects? (What did
  he want to do as president?
• What were the major events of his presidency?
  (Amendments passed? War? Economic changes?)
• Why did he leave the presidency?
• Who became the next president?
• What did he do after he left the presidency
• How and when did he die?
• For what is this president best known?

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President Project Outline

• Paragraph 1 Where born and grew up
• Education
• Paragraph 2 Family Wife, Children
• Paragraph 3 Jobs before he became President
• Paragraph 4 Presidency -- Years in office
• Political Party
• Major events during that time Wars, Amendments,
  New states, Peace Treaties, etc.
• Paragraph 5 After the Presidency why did he
  leave?
• Who was the next President?
• What did he do after he was President?
• Death When and how? What is he known for?

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Sample President Essay
Darrell Bs Essay Woodrow Wilson Final
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Persuasive Essay Topics

• Acquit or Convict
• Environmental Issues 
• Heroes and Heroines
• Letters to the President 
• My Favorite Book 
• My Favorite Movie 
• My Favorite Sport 
• My Favorite TV Show 
• School Rules 
• Trips 

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Persuasive Essay Outline

• Paragraph 1 State your argument.
• List three reasons for this.
• Paragraph 2 Discuss Reason 1
• List 3 things that back this up.
• Paragraph 3 Discuss Reason 2
• List 3 things that back this up.
• Paragraph 4 Discuss Reason 3
• List 3 things that back this up.
• Paragraph 5
• Repeat your argument and say why this is
  important.

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Sample Persuasive Essay
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Conclusion

• Using the ePortfolios helps students write
  longer, better essays.
• Using the ePortfolios encourages students to
  revise their work.
• Using the ePortfolios makes writing more fun
  because students can share their work and show
  off perfect final drafts.

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• Questions and comments

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Learning Perspectives for Special Students

• Susan Werner
• Unity Junior High School East
• Cicero School District 99
• Cicero
• SWerner_at_cicd99.edu

Collaboratory Project Symposium
Northwestern University, Evanston IL May
4, 2007
07/12/99
1
Northwestern University