Our WebQuests for Reading in the Content Areas

Worm WebQuest
For 3rd grade Science
By Alisha Bausone

Case Study 2: Climate Change Proposal
For 8th Grade Social Studies
By Brandon Lang

Adopt an Element
For 9th-10th Grade Physical Science
By Kelli Coleman-Taylor

Math Review WebQuest
For 7th Grade Math
By Jessica Durinsky

Create Your Own Linear Programming Problem WebQuest
For 10th Grade Algebra
By Amy Hiller

Mixed Math Skills
For 3rd Grade Math
By Alyssa Phillips

Prohibition and Public Enemies
For 10th Grade American History
By Annamarie Murphy

Veteran’s Day
For 3rd Grade
By Carter Weist

Cell Division
For 10th Grade Biology
By Amy Bolton

The Partition of Africa
For 10th Grade World History
By Veronica Price-Story

 

Chapter 11 Reading and Response

Read Chapter 11 “Learning with Trade Books” in your textbook.

A trade book is defined as a book designed for the general public and sold at any book store, as opposed to a textbook.

Question:  What is one of your favorite trade books that could be used at the grade level in your field experience classroom to support learning in a content area?  Please give the title and author, with a brief description of the book.  If possible, bring a copy of the book to class for a book “show and tell.”

 

Example Lesson Plans

Here are some model lesson plans for content area reading as reviewed in class:

Third Grade Mathematics

HS Science

HS Algebra

 

Chapter 9 Reading and Response

Response due Sunday, November 15

Read Chapter 9 “Writing Across the Curriculum”

Question:  Why is writing important for learning in the content areas?

Chapter 8 Reading – NO RESPONSE REQUIRED!

Read Chapter 8 “Developing Vocabulary and Concepts” in your textbook.

Remember to bring a printed copy of your Lesson Plan #3 to class on Thursday.

I left the comment section open, just in case you’d like to share your thoughts about something.  Your response is completely optional!

Chapter 7 Reading – NO RESPONSE REQUIRED!

Read Chapter 7 “Guided Reading Comprehension” in your textbook.

No blog response, as indicated on your syllabus, is required for this week.  Last week’s blog response will count for this week. 

I left the comment section open, just in case you’d like to share your thoughts about something.  Your response is completely optional!

Chapter 6 Reading and Response

Due Date:  October 22nd

Read Chapter 6 “Activating Prior Knowledge and Interest” in your textbook.

“Why can’t we just read like in other classes?  Why do we always have to think about what we read?” complained an irritated high school junior in his history class.  (top of pg. 174 in your textbook, Vacca, Vacca, & Mraz)

Question:  If one of your students asked something similar to the above, how would you respond?

Chapter 5 Reading and Response

Due date change: your comment for this post is due by midnight on Sunday, October 11.

Read Chapter 5 “Planning Instruction for Content Literacy” in your textbook.

Many instructional strategies are tied to discussion.  After reading pgs. 165-168 in your text, reflect on how the teacher in your field experience classroom facilitates classroom discussions to support learning.

Question:  Describe a way that you’ve observed your mentor teacher support discussions in your field experience classroom.  If possible, relate your observation to our textbook readings.

Due date change: your comment for this post is due by midnight on Sunday, October 11.

Assignment: Design a WebQuest for a Content Area with a Lesson Plan

40% of grade           Due November 19, 2015
This is the Key Assessment for the course!

One of the goals of working with students in the content areas is to model effective strategies that will lead to students’ ability to unlock content area materials independently. One means of learning and practicing the strategies that will help students build meaning is through the WebQuest. WebQuests provide an authentic, technology-rich environment for problem-solving, information processing, and collaboration. Design and implement a WebQuest in using these  guidelines and rubric.

Click here for the Assignment Guidelines with evaluation rubric.

Click here for the “What Are WebQuests?” PPT Handout

Informational websites:

WebQuest.org – informational site by Bernie Dodge, creator of the WebQuest

Quest Garden – find and create WebQuests (fee-based)

Zunal.com – find and create WebQuests free!

Tools to create a WebQuest

PowerPoint

Zunal.com

Prezi.com

Google Sites – Find more information here!

 

Chapter 4 Reading and Response

Reading Chapter 4 in your textbook.

Active readers think of questions as they read.  While you’re reading chapter 4, write down 4 questions about the text on post-its and place these questions in the text as you think of them.  If your question isn’t answered later in the text, put a star on the post-it.  We’ll share unanswered questions in class and discuss.

Question:  What is one informal assessment strategy that you have observed in your field experience classroom?  How was the information used from this informal assessment used to inform instruction?