Inquiry #8 Intervention Tools 2: Writing Strategies

Here are a few writing strategies that I want to use to support writing for my seniors.

1st Strategy:  Reading aloud and guided vocabulary activities

Reading and writing go hand in hand.  For the level 2 exams, students are required to read and interpret a number of different sources to show their understanding by applying findings to the questions. I want to try a predictive reading strategy with the class to help them deep dive into understanding the reading and draw from the reading the key concepts and vocab needed to understand the text.  This in turn should reinforce the focus on understanding key words to make meaning.

2nd Strategy: Visuals and word counts matter

A study called ‘Write that Essay’ found that students’ responded to knowing how many words, sentences, paragraphs etc they needed to write to help guide them.  I found this useful in the past and I wanted to ensure students knew exactly how many words they needed per paragraph and how this would look.  

3rd Strategy: SOLO taxonomy Hexagons to encourage critical thinking

One of the activities I like doing is the Hexagon activity where students have done some prior-learning about a topic and then are encouraged to make connections that are relevant to the topic.  I want to utilise SOLO taxonomy framework more purposefully in class to encourage the learning. 

Inquiry task #8 Intervention Tools 1: Workspace design

I’ve created a workspace for students to access their work in one centralised location.  On it, I hope to add rewindable learning opportunities especially for those who may have missed classes as well as evidence of writing as we progress with the learning.

The structure of the workspace is as follows:

• Tips for preparing for exams
• Understanding the writing expectations with 
• A study of exams
• Understanding the language of the standard
• Understanding the conflict

The workspace will help me to track student writing tasks in a common place.

I have not been a great advocate for workspaces myself just because I couldn’t get my head around it.  Now that I see the benefits of using it for the learners, I will definitely be actively using it to support student learning. (Link to workspace)

Causal Chain 2023

"A causal chain is when a cause leads to an effect and that effect becomes the cause of another effect

A leads to B. B leads to C. C leads to D.

Any intervention I design will (consciously or not) be based on a causal chain I have in mind - this is my theory of action.

Link