Was worried that my online class Language Arts: A Development Approach did not cover enough on the topic of writing instruction in #digped. There were
In reply to http://networkedlearningcollaborative.com/the-courses/language-arts-a-developmental-approach/
Was worried that my online class Language Arts: A Development Approach did not cover enough on the topic of writing instruction in #digped. There were a variety of reasons:
-The 13 week online class had to be completed in 3 weeks. This meant material had to go.
-There are pre-service and certified teachers in the class. Elementary certification in CT required a boat load of testing. One of those tests is Foundations of Reading. I have an obligation to ensure students know this material.
-Given the timeframe of the class it was impossible to ensure all students were at or near the same point at the same time. This makes collaborative writing assignments (essential online IMO) almost impossible.
So there was no module on writing. What I realized as I commented on a student's blog was the class was built to teach writing instruction and assessment. It wasn't an explicit unit but baked into the DNA.
I commented on posts based on evidence. I made a claim based on the explanations, connected to direct evidence in student writing, and then left actionable feedback to help them grow.
I had students annotating their reading and writing about their reading. Writing is never taught in a solo.
I pushed them into new digital spaces, well because its fun.
