Read/Write /Think has many lessons and tools which teachers need to be aware of so they can use them in their curriculum. I looked at a lesson about paraphrasing. I like how this website already gives the NTE/IRA standards about readers needing to be able to interpret a clear understanding of print and nonprint information. In this lesson the teacher gives the resources of using whiteboards and internet. She focuses her lesson on animals. This could be changed on anything one is studying, especially in science or social studies. There are 4 lessons planned. At first the students look at a picture of an "okapi." Together as a class they try to put in their own words what an okapi is. They then together read a paragraph about the okapi and try to paraphrase it. During the next lesson they extend their research and look online at the "National Geographic for Kids" website. In pairs, the students look for more facts about the okapi and paraphrase those facts to be shared and evaluated by other pairs doing the same thing. The third day of doing this lesson, the students paraphrase about a new animal, the "echidna". They look over each others work in pairs. On the fourth day of the paraphrasing lesson, the students choose their own animal on the web to research and paraphrase important information. I think this is an effective lesson because the teacher starts showing how to paraphrase with the class together allowing the students to work with the teacher and then the teacher gets the students to work with a partner doing the assignment, and eventually the students paraphrase an animal on their own. Each lesson allowed for confidence at a different level. (With teacher, in a pair, with peers as evaluators in pairs and on your own) The lesson has a teacher's guided and independent practices and all the resources available. Too bad this website was not in existence when I was doing student teaching. I know I will use it now. This is a very valuable resource for teachers and substitutes when they need some extra guidance.
Sarah Patten