MICHELLE ALBURYINTERDISCIPLINARY WRITING UNIT

READ 7140Summer 2009

FIRST GRADEGenre/Mode: Informational ReportsContent Area: Science

GEORGIA WRITING TEST (3RD GRADE)

Teacher EvaluatedEvaluation based on ideas,

organization, style, and conventionsAssignments can be related to any

content areas in the GPSStudents should be able to include

information from other resources

PRE-ASSESSMENT PROMPT

Students will be given 30 minutes to write about their favorite animal

Verbal Instructions: I want you to write about your favorite animal. Include as much information as you can about the animal. Think about the things that you have learned about this animal in class or through reading. You have 30 minutes.

PREWRITING

INSTRUCTIONAL GROUPING: TEACHER’S NEEDS

InstructionWhole groupIncrease time on taskAllow all students to receive the

same information at the same time

All students can participate in discussion and help to clarify content

INSTRUCTIONAL GROUPING: TEACHER’S NEEDS CONTD.

PracticeWhole groupAll students will be expected to fill

out the same graphic organizerAll students will receive the

practice and can offer ideas that may help other students understanding

Seated in groups of four

INSTRUCTIONAL GROUPING: TEACHER’S NEEDS CONTD.

AssessmentIndependentEach student has chosen a

different animal to write aboutSeated in groups of four to

allow students to share ideas

INSTRUCTIONAL GROUPING: STUDENTS’ DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS

InstructionStudents with developmental

delays will sit with students who have average or above-average abilitiesPromote scaffolding

Students with ADHD will sit near the front close to calmer studentsPromote positive role modeling

INSTRUCTIONAL GROUPING: STUDENTS’ DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS CONTD.

PracticeGroups of fourArranged to contain students of

mixed abilitiesPromote scaffolding

AssessmentGroups will remain the same

INSTRUCTIONAL GROUPING: STUDENTS’ CULTURAL OR LINGUISTIC NEEDS

InstructionSeated near assigned peer

buddiesProvide help with clarifying instructions

Practice and AssessmentPlaced in groups with mixed

abilities and peer buddiesProvide help with clarifying instructions and word choice/ideas

INFORMATIONAL WRITING: ANIMAL REPORTS

Nonfiction: information is fact, not make believe

Purpose: to share informationAudience: teacher and

classmatesTopic: choose an animalConsider: how it looks, how it

moves, how it grows, and basic needs

STAGE OF WRITING: PREWRITING

Important stagePurpose: get thoughts and ideas

on paperNo complete sentences!Complete animal graphic

organizers

MY ANIMAL:

What does it look like? Color: Size:Body Covering:

Special Features:

How does it move? What does it need to survive?

How does it grow? How long does it take to become an adult?

Other fun facts:

3: Met the PLO 2: Partially Met the PLO 1: PLO Not Met

Described the appearance of the animal

Included 3+ facts about the appearance of the animal

Included 2+ facts about the appearance of the animal

Included only one or no facts about the appearance of the animal

Animal Movement Included 2+ descriptive words to describe the movement

Included 1+ descriptive words to describe the movement

Included no description of movement

Animal Basic Needs Included 3+ basic needs of the animal

Included 2+ basic needs of the animal

Included only one or no basic needs of the animal

Animal Growth Included info about how long it takes for an animal to become an adult and/or other info about growth

Did not include info about animal growth

Other Fun Facts Included 3+ other fun facts

Included 2+ other fun facts

Included one or no other fun facts

Animal Report Prewriting Rubric

ANIMAL REPORT PREWRITING CHECKLIST

______ Name of your animal ______ 3 facts describing how the animal looks ______ 2 words describing how the animal

moves ______ 3 basic needs of the animal ______ How long does it take the animal to

become an adult?______ 3 other fun facts about the animal

ACCOMMODATIONS: DIFFERING STAGES OF DEVELOPMENTDraw the animal firstThen, describe it to the teacher or a

peer as they writeExtra assistance during researchPartners may work on an animal

togetherLower level information books for

research

ACCOMMODATIONS: DIFFERING CULTURAL OR LINGUISTIC BACKGROUNDS

Lower level books May choose animals from their country Work with a partner

DRAFTING

STAGE OF WRITING INSTRUCTION: DRAFTING Don’t worry about grammar or spelling Skip every other line Use your graphic organizer to help you Write in complete sentences

3: Met the PLO 2: Partially Met the PLO 1: PLO Not Met

Described the appearance of the animal

Included 3+ facts about the appearance of the animal

Included 2+ facts about the appearance of the animal

Included only one or no facts about the appearance of the animal

Animal Movement Included 2+ descriptive words to describe the movement

Included 1+ descriptive words to describe the movement

Included no description of movement

Animal Basic Needs Included 3+ basic needs of the animal

Included 2+ basic needs of the animal

Included only one or no basic needs of the animal

Animal Growth Included info about how long it takes for an animal to become an adult and/or other info about growth

Did not include info about animal growth

Other Fun Facts Included 3+ other fun facts Included 2+ other fun facts Included one or no other fun facts

Complete Sentences Writing mostly in complete sentences

Writing has some complete sentences

Writing has few or not complete sentences

Skipped Lines Skipped every other line Skipped almost every other line

Did not skip lines

Animal Report Drafting Rubric

DRAFTING CHECKLIST

_______ Name of your animal ______ 3 facts describing how the animal

looks ______ 2 words describing how the animal

moves ______ 3 basic needs of the animal ______ How long does it take the animal

to become an adult? ______ 3 other fun facts about the animal ______ Wrote in complete sentences ______ Skipped every other line

REVISING

STAGE OF WRITING INSTRUCTION: REVISINGAdd more detailsDelete unrelated informationRearrange the orderChange words (ex. Change big to

gigantic)Don’t worry about spelling or

grammar yetUse our proofreading marks

3 Criteria Met 2 Criteria Partially Met 1 Criteria Not Met

Adding Details Added 3+ descriptive details

Added 2+ descriptive details

Added one or no descriptive details

Changing Words Changed 3 or more words to more interesting synonyms

Changed 2 or more words to more interesting synonyms

Changed one or no words to more interesting synonyms

Deleting Unrelated Information

Deleted almost all unrelated information

Deleted some unrelated information

Did not delete unrelated information

Rearranging Information Almost all of the information is in an order that makes sense

Rearranged some information but the order is still not quite right

Did not rearrange informationOrder does not make sense

Making changes based on peer suggestions

Made 3+ changes after peer suggestions

Made 2+ changes after peer suggestions

Made one or no changes after peer suggestions

Animal Report Revising Rubric

ANIMAL REPORT REVISING CHECKLIST

______ Reread your entire rough draft ______ Add details/adjectives to describe the

animal ______ Change words; adjectives ______ Delete writing that is not on topic ______ Rearrange information so that it makes

sense ______ Make changes based on your peer’s

suggestions

EDITING

STAGE OF WRITING INSTRUCTION: EDITINGMake sure your writing is easy to

read!Reread your draftThings to look for:

End punctuationCapitalizationCorrect spelling (Use your

resources!)Complete sentences

Category 4-Exceeds PLO 3-Meets PLO 2-Partially Meets PLO

1-Does Not Meet PLO

0-Does Not Meet PLO

Spelling 0-3 errors in spelling(E)

4-5 errors in spelling(M)

6-7 errors in spelling(PM)

8 or more errors in spelling

No attempt

Punctuation Ending

punctuation

0-3 errors in punctuation (E)

4-5 errors in punctuation(M)

6-7 errors in punctuation(PM)

8 or more errors in punctuation

No attempt

CapitalizationBeginning of

sentences

0-3 errors in capitalization(E)

4-5 errors in capitalization(M)

6-7 errors in capitalization(PM)

8 or more errors in capitalization(D)

No attempt

Complete Sentences

0-3 incomplete sentences(E)

4-5 incomplete sentences(M)

6-7 incomplete sentences(PM)

8 or more incomplete sentences(D)

No attempt

Animal Report Editing Rubric

EDITING CHECKLIST

______ _______Capitalization _____ _____End Punctuation _____ _____Commas in a Series _____ _____Spelling _____ _____Complete Sentences

PUBLISHING

STAGE OF WRITING INSTRUCTION: PUBLISHING

Draw your picture firstUse your draft to write your

paragraphInclude all of your changes from

revision and editingRead your work when you are

finishedNeat Handwriting!

3: Met the PLO 2: Partially Met the PLO 1: PLO Not Met

Described the appearance of the animal

Included 3+ facts about the appearance of the animal

Included 2+ facts about the appearance of the animal

Included only one or no facts about the appearance of the animal

Animal Movement Included 2+ descriptive words to describe the movement

Included 1+ descriptive words to describe the movement

Included no description of movement

Animal Basic Needs Included 3+ basic needs of the animal

Included 2+ basic needs of the animal

Included only one or no basic needs of the animal

Animal Growth Included info about how long it takes for an animal to become an adult and/or other info about growth

Did not include info about animal growth

Other Fun Facts Included 3+ other fun facts Included 2+ other fun facts Included one or no other fun facts

Complete Sentences Most or all writing is in complete sentences

Some writing is in complete sentences

No complete sentences

Handwriting Handwriting is legible Handwriting is not legible

Animal Report Publishing Rubric