Field+Lesson+1

**Grade: ** 5
 * Lesson Plan: ** Writing Mini-Lesson

**Time: ** 40 minutes

**Standard: ** Text Types and Purposes Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
 * 1) Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer’s purpose.
 * 2) Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details.
 * 3) Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.

**Objective: ** The students will be able to discover a point of view about a book, organize their ideas, and write a response in the form of a new type of media (i.e. a news paper article).

**Materials: **
 * //The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> as told to Jon Scieszka
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Markers
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Chart paper labeled, “How to Write an News Paper Opinion Article”
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Sample “News Article” worksheet
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“News Article” worksheet

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Lesson Sequence: ** · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">“Boys and girls, today I am going to read to you one of my favorite books of all time. It is called //The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs//. How many of you have heard of this book by Jon Scieszka? Great. Based on the title and the cover, what do you think this book will be about? Can you make some predictions?” o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Allow students time to predict. Follow up with questions like “What made you think that?” or “Why do you think that is going to happen?” o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">“Very interesting predictions. Now let me read the beginning of the story and determine if your predictions were confirmed. Remember, predictions are never wrong because they are only what we think might happen. If we find our predictions are not what Jon Scieszka was thinking, then we will simply make new predictions.” o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Stop reading occasionally and allow students to confirm and change predictions: § <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Page 20: “So boys and girls, where do we think Al is going to go next?” § <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Page 28: “What do you think that Al is going to do to that 3rd mean pig?” o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">If you notice students are not engaged with //The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs//, stop and redirect by asking a question or discussing a connection. · **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">State Objective and Purpose: ** o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“Today, we are going to learn how to write our very own opinion article about our story. We will learn how to express our ideas just like professional news paper writers do. I am so excited; let’s get started!” · **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Teach and Model: ** · **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Guided Practice: ** o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Go over the prepared <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">“News Article” worksheet by stopping and having the students clearly see each of the four steps. · **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Independent Practice/Assessment: ** o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“Boys and girls, it is now your turn to write an opinion article of your own. I am passing out your very own blank <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">“News Article” worksheet. Make sure to write your name and number on the top of the page. Also, students, you will notice that there is spots for you to fill in your article title, photo, and photo caption; I ask that you do these three elements last. Now follow the four step process and create your very own article. I will be walking around if you have any questions. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">” · **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Closure: ** o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“Who would like to share his/her article for the class?” o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“Great job future news paper writers! I am so impressed with all of your articles! Great job today!”
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Have chart paper ready with the heading, “How to Write an News Paper Opinion Article”
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Students, there are a few key components to writing an opinion article. First let’s define the word opinion. The word is defined as a personal view – the view somebody takes about an issue. To write one of these articles, there are a few steps one must follow.”
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Along the way, have students volunteer to define/explain each of the steps.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Step one is – discover or choose an opinion about a certain topic. In this case, you will be picking your favorite part of the story and writing about it.”
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Step two is – write your opening sentence. An opening sentence should sum up what your entire article is going to be about.”
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Step three is – state your opinion. This is where you make it clear to your reader what you point of view on the topic is. In this case, what was your favorite part of the story?”
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Step four is – support your opinion with reasons. A well written article has two to three strong reasons for choosing the point of view that he/she chose. Why was that section your favorite?”
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“Step four is – write your conclusion sentence. A conclusion sentence should restate your original opinion.”
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">From here, move into the prepared sample <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">“News Article” worksheet.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Assessment (How will you know the lesson has be successful?): **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> You will be able to determine that the lesson was a success if, students asked relevant questions and produced opinion articles that followed the pre-set four step writing guidelines.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Today I taught my first lesson in the field. The goal was for the students to be able to discover a point of view about a book, organize their ideas, and write a response in the form of a new type of media (i.e. a news paper article). Based on the responses given throughout the lesson and the work handed in afterwards, it was made clear that the students were able to comprehend and use the newly presented information. Students, for the most part, remained focused through the entirety of the lesson asking well thought out questions and responding with skilled answers. There were a few students who I did notice spacing out towards the end of the guided practice section. I chose to re-focus some of my questions right on the spot to engage those students and draw them back into the conversation. Also, during independent work, I followed up with those two to three students to make sure that they were staying focused and on track. This approach appeared to work as these students’ news articles were just as strong as the rest of the classes. One thing that I want to improve upon for my next lesson is the timing of instruction. It is important for a student to hear all instructions before starting any assignment. As the teacher, I have the responsibility to set up my students for success. By rushing through the instructions while half the class was more focused on passing out the activity sheets, I was not allowing my students to have the tools needed for success. Timing of instruction is a skill that I will be focusing on when I teach my second lesson. Overall, I am proud of the work that I put forth. For my first attempt at a teaching literacy in a fifth grade classroom, I was able to engae my students, teach them the skills needed to write a well thought out news article, and assist them while they independently reached new levels of skill.

**__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Notes from Cooperating Teacher: __**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Great Format – clear introduction, objective, instruction, guided practice, independent work, and conclusion
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Strong interactive read-aloud – read with expression & stopped to allow students time to make predictions and connect to the text
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Objective was clear – gave students a clear objective that was enhanced with a five step process
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Strong guided practice – the sample news article was clear with each step seen specifically with different colors
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Kept students engaged – was able to keep most students active and re-focus those who zoned out briefly
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Give clear instruction – wait until all papers are passes out before starting instructions (either give instruction then paper, or paper then instruction; never both at the same time). Also, speak slower when giving instruction.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Overall – lesson was exceptional

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