Leadership in Developing Units of Study: Writing Curriculum

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Leadership in Developing Units of Study Writing
Curriculum

• Janet Cumbee

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What is Mode?

• Mode describes the meaning work that a piece of
  writing is doing at any given place in the text.
• Writers move among different modes in order to
  accomplish their purposes, to help them make
  whatever it is they are making with the writing.
• Mode is a descriptive device.

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Mode

• Mode The Writing Work of this Mode
• Narration tells a story
• Exposition Explains an idea conveys
  information
• Description Creates an impression of
  something (sight, sound, feel,
• taste, smell)
• Argumentation makes a case for the validity of
  an idea or opinion

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What is genre?

• Genre simply means kind, sort.
• Genre is what people make with writing, like an
  essay, short story, historical fiction,
  biographies, etc.

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Genre Study Format
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The connection of mode and genre makes writing
authentic.

• When children use what they read, they are using
  the genre in which they read.
• Genre is concrete and, therefore, allows for
  children to make connections to what they read
  and to carry it into their writing.
• Mode is purpose and audience it is not concrete.

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How does it look to design a schoolwide Units of
Study?
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We read the research on units of study and
writing standards

• We study together to develop units of study. We
  look at materials we are already using and new
  materials we may need.
• Dr. Cumbee presents the National Primary Literacy
  Standards and Alabama State Standards for writing
  in four modes.
• We collect our materials in notebooks provided by
  our school.

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By grade level, we work to develop a plan for the
coming school year
KGN
1ST
2ND
3RD
10
And
4th
5th
6th
We ate some more!
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Our finished products
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KINDERGARTEN
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FIRST-GRADE
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SECOND-GRADE
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THIRD-GRADE
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Teachers as a Team
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COLLEAGUESHIP
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Ideas for Connecting Content Area Studies with a
Genre Study

• Content Area Study Genre Study
• Famous Americans Biographies
• Columbus Day Informational Research
• Your State Travel Brochure
• Author Study Realistic Fiction/Fantasy
• Thanksgiving Nonfiction narrative
  (retelling)
• Floating/Sinking Scientific Descriptive
  Explanation
• Native Americans Historical Fiction
• Nutrition Menus

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Bibliography

• Study Driven A Framework for Planning Units of
  Study in the Writing Workshop by Katie Wood Ray
• Thinking Through Genre Units of Study in
  Reading and Writing Workshops 4-12 by Heather
  Lattimer
• Learning about Literary Genres Reading and
  Writing with Young Children by Debbie Rickards
  and Shirl Hawes
• What You Know by Heart How to Develop Curriculum
  for Your Writing Workshop by Katie Wood Ray