Summer Institute were introduced to the theoretical promptArray3[17]="\"CONTRAST your topic with something interesting.\"" promptArrayLast[20]="\"a colleague who needs to change his/her ways.\"" AND, OR, NOT, “ ”, ( ), We use cookies to deliver a better user experience and to show you ads based on your interests. 51 Wacky We-Search Reports by Barry Lane. The Science Teacher, Academic journal article The Science Teacher, 73 Blog communicate to given audiences using the specified --Corbett promptArray3[29]="\"DISPROVE someone's thinking.\"" E-mail: BridgetC@usca.edu, More on these topicsCommon Core State StandardsCurriculumDifferentiated InstructionLanguage Arts and LiteracySTEMTeaching promptArrayFirst[12]="\"a grant writer\"" as they develop their ideas. South Carolina Aiken; and the Center of Excellence in Literacy, 50 Article tags ScienceWritingLiteracyRAFT, Research in Middle Level Education Online, Student-to-Student Discourse in an Online Environment, The Successful Middle School: This We Believe, Copyright © 1999-2020 Association for Middle Level Education, Middle School: A Place to Belong and Become. promptArray3[26]="\"ESTIMATE something.\"" process information and use critical thinking rather promptArrayLast[7]="\"the governor of your state.\"" Bricker, P., Rogowski, N., Hedt, M., & Rolfe, N. (2010). Here are ways to receive updates and keep in touch. promptArrayFirst[11]="\"an ill citizen\"" organization, and analysis of relevant content” (CCSS document.namehere.firstname.value = promptArrayFirst[promptShowing]; Initiative, 2010, p. 42). In the states. struggling adolescent readers. prompt. If one of the button's choices doesn't seem to work, feel free to click it again. Think about it. promptArrayFirst[0]="\"Define VAG.\"" promptArrayFirst[16]="\"a genetic scientist\"" promptShowing=0; Retrieved from http://www.achievethecore.org/ promptArrayFirst[28]="\"a lab manager\"" annual AWP Summer Institute. connection to the science content presented. Science prompt into a R.A.F.T.S. Examples of RAFTs developed 5. 45 promptArray2[7]="\"the water cycle.\"" answered relied on them having read the text with promptArrayFirst[19]="\"a pharmacist\"" A variety of writing strategies have been implemented students to analyze a text; draw inferences from a text; used at the partnering schools. a new instructional strategy. promptArray3[20]="\"ANALYZE something in a new way.\"" This is a simple but powerful technique that will inspire more thoughtful writing from yourself or your students. RPSEC for a variety of field trip experiences. Students generally feel as though they--a single voice--are writing down their words to hand to an audience of one--the teacher--for evaluation. care (Student Achievement Partners, 2012). English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, personal and business letters, recipes, memos, journals, speeches, and. The role Gary J. Senn I also add new student samples to many posted lessons. Middle-level Interdisciplinary Strategies for Teaching Bridging reading The CCSS for ELA/Literacy }. document.namehere.lastname.value = promptArrayLast[promptShowing]; (Click on the cover below to find out how to order a copy for your classroom or school.). RAFTs are also great for differentiating based on diverse skill levels. Santa, C. (1988). Students were also given the choice of the format (e.g., letter, poem, newspaper article, treasure map story) in which they wrote. promptArrayLast[26]="\"a group of immigrants.\"" efforts of three entities: The Center of Excellence for The promise of refutation text. promptArray2[3]="\"the animal kingdom.\"" promptArray3[2]="\"DEFEND your opinion.\"" CCSS for ELA/Literacy has reading standards for Always Write Write in the Middle promptArrayLast[22]="\"an enemy.\"" while(promptShowing == prevPromptShowing) As students consider how to express ideas from a different point of view and explain them to others, they must delve deeper into the topic and become aware of their ideas and the meanings they have attached to the topic. promptArray3[27]="\"DESIGN a new way to look at your topic.\"" addition, RAFTs can support reading development, as The Aiken County Public Schools, RAFT writing strategies promptArray1[9]="\"a resume.\"" --Corbett promptArray1[11]="\"a classified ad.\"" promptArrayLast[11]="\"a poor group in need of money.\"" promptArray3[22]="\"SUPPORT those who believe strongly in the topic.\"" promptArray2[30]="\"nanotechnology.\"" enable students to address environmental literacy and various writing strategies that have been successful for As a follow- By using this strategy, teachers encourage students to write creatively, to consider a topic from a different perspective, and to gain practice writing for different audiences. ideas; and determine an author’s point of view (CCSS steal-these-tools The topic is limited only by the imagination of the writer. ), Build a R.A.F.T.S. promptArray1[2]="\"a 3-minute speech.\"" (Editor’s note: This will require targeted professional the RAFT strategy has been used in science classes to While RAFT was designed to facilitate student writing, using a RAFT strategy with middle grades students is especially effective because it supports reading and writing across the curriculum (Melin & Schiller, 2011; Shellard & Protheroe, 2004) and provides opportunities for students reading below grade level to improve their reading skills (Fisher & Ivey, 2006). 2008). prevPromptShowing = promptShowing; Thanks in advance for honoring other educators' intellectual property. // wherever it gets copied. while(promptShowing == prevPromptShowing) promptArrayFirst[29]="\"a farmer\"" IA: Kendall/Hunt. salvaged body parts from a variety of raptor species. One of the CCSS Initiative. promptArray3[16]="\"COMPARE your topic with something interesting.\"" Research in the Schools, 16 Retrieved from http://www. promptArray1[18]="\"a protesting sign and chant.\"" Melin, J., & Schiller, E. (2011) Whoooo knew? Initiative, 2012). The confluence of RAFT, the integration of science The RAFT strategy can be extended to RAFTS by including a focus on strong verbs that grab the reader’s attention. promptArray2[25]="\"asthma or allergies.\"" integrating ELA and science content (Bintz, Wright, Wang, Smith, and Johnson discuss in this issue.). //BUT CREATED ALL THE PROMPTS MYSELF. and. RAFT writing encourages creative thinking and the emphasis on the shared responsibility for students’ // Make sure you don't show the same prompt 2x in a row They took the role of the object whose motion created the provided graph and selected the audience to whom they were writing, such as a friend, readers of a newspaper, or a scientist studying the object. prevPromptShowing = promptShowing; promptArray2[11]="\"matter.\"" If you assign strong verbs like convince, encourage, assure, or sway, then you have just transformed the prompt into a persuasive writing activity, which registers even higher on Bloom's Taxonomy. format and topic. Writing Assignments. promptArray1[14]="\"a book report.\"" promptArray2[27]="\"funding for research.\"" Audience on a screen and by interacting with bird field guides. students into thin air: Using science to enhance reading. article. Finally, there will be a discussion and 3. Writer's AUDIENCE for this Assignment promptShowing = Math.ceil(Math.random() * numPrompts); An unknown error has occurred. The Science Teacher. For their topic, students explained how they, the object, moved to create the position vs. time graph. One way to probe students' misconceptions about science during instruction is by using formative assessments. development for teachers in all content areas, as Gilles, Groenke, S. L., & Puckett, R. (2006). for Social Studies Class, 6-Trait rubric to help design R.A.F.T.S. // Using copy change with promptArrayLast[19]="\"someone newly hired.\"" Homepage, you can access the worksheets we use when we help teachers design these thoughtful, content-based writing prompts. informational texts for each grade level that require and mathematics programs, including ELA and The RAFT writing prompt engages students in an exploration of a specific topic or concept, while simultaneously allowing them to demonstrate what they know and how they think about the topic. Academic journal article teacher, to encourage students to write from different promptArray1[1]="\"a formal letter of request.\"" understanding. Website promptArrayFirst[15]="\"an astronomer\"" promptArray2[21]="\"the food cycle.\"" Its sole purpose is to make writing feel more authentic in two ways: 1) students are asked to think and write from a real world person's perspective, and they are asked to shape their ideas to appeal to an audience outside the classroom; 2) because they are considering perspective as they go through the writing process, students are being asked to think at a much … // Permission to use this script is given as long as this header stays with the script analyze interactions between individuals, events and the Ravenous Raptors program (see Appendix). (Grades K-12), Brian's promptArray2[8]="\"heat and temperature.\"" perspectives (Santa, 1988). The RAFT writing strategy gives students a writing prompt that requires them to explain a scientific concept in a creative context by considering various perspectives (Figure 1). promptShowing=0; (CEMIST), at the Ruth Patrick Science Education students will write texts that fulfill the requirements RAFT writing requires students // Make sure you don't show the same prompt 2x in a row role could be from the perspective of an animal, a plant, promptArrayLast[12]="\"a conference of mathematicians.\"" Here’s the meaning of each part: promptArray3[1]="\"PERSUADE your audience to do something.\"" //I ASKED FOR PERMISSION, BUT BRANDON NEVER RESPONDED. promptArray2[15]="\"human health issues.\"" Journal of Adolescent & Adult is an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina Aiken and a workshop facilitator for the Center of Excellence in literate citizens. Vol. promptArray2[4]="\"biomes.\"" ELA/literacy. We still proudly offer a monthly lesson for all teachers who sign-up for our "Lesson of the Month" Ning. promptArray1[28]="\"a letter of support.\"" One solution—I would emphasize this is just one—is using RAFTs as a writing strategy. promptArray2[18]="\"recycling.\"" promptArray3[0]="\"Define VAG.\"" Thus, teachers in the AWP the audience does not necessarily have to be human. // Homepage: http://www.apeleon.net/~microbit/brandon.html Reading Research Quarterly 46 prevPromptShowing = promptShowing; prevPromptShowing = promptShowing; promptArray3[28]="\"COMPLAIN about something.\"" think from the perspective of those roles, they have to rubrics. beyond the classroom (Groenke & Puckett, 2006). Website numPrompts=30; //I ASKED FOR PERMISSION, BUT BRANDON NEVER RESPONDED. Science: Social Studies: RAFT Activities: (Continued on following pages) For each RAFT Activity below, use the writing templates and instructional materials on the following pages for students to practice writing . Join our Writing Lesson of the Month Ning by clicking here, and start enjoying this free feature. teachers to employ ELA strategies to improve student promptArray3[13]="\"INFLUENCE your audience's thinking.\"" They think that being ahead implies having gone faster, less distance covered means less time, and going faster means going for more time (DiSessa 1993). The result of this effort is CCSS for English Language Arts Middle-level Interdisciplinary Strategies for Teaching. Content reading including study systems. Finally, the students were introduced to and permitted numPrompts=30; Usually the writing turned in to the teacher would register pretty low on Bloom's Taxonomy; like it or not, most student writing assignments ask learners to do little more than regurgitate information from notes or research. prompt. The RPSEC provides various science for inquiry science. Assessment strategies We used a RAFT assignment in a ninth-grade physical science classroom midway through a unit on motion. RAFT is a writing strategy that helps students understand their role as a writer, the audience they will address, the varied formats for writing, and the topic they'll be writing about. // // Permission to use this script is given as long as this header stays with the script promptArray3[4]="\"CATEGORIZE your topic within a bigger idea.\"" A Bonus Letter! promptArray3[6]="\"INSPIRE your audience to act now.\"" of the CCSS for ELA/Literacy writing standards. { promptArrayLast[9]="\"a group of protestors.\"" promptArray2[1]="\"photosynthesis.\"" promptArray3[14]="\"PREDICT 5 years into the future, if things stay the same.\"" This article describes a Role, Audience, Format, and Topic (RAFT) creative writing assignment that formatively assesses high school students' learning in a physical science class focusing on motion. As they complete RAFTs, This print resource contains five modules on different ways to write meaningfully in all curriculum areas. promptArray3[5]="\"CONVINCE your audience to change something.\"" a new instructional strategy, they must understand the are now in the process of implementing them (CCSS Enter the RAFT writing assignment. teaches at the University of South Carolina Aiken and is the program director for the Center of Excellence in Middle-level teachers can tailor multiple RAFT assignments to a The Writer's STRONG VERB to Achieve with this Writing, // Author: Brandon Checketts and ELA, and the introduction of CCSS resulted in the promptArrayLast[5]="\"a senate committee.\"" Evaluating the interventions for // wherever it gets copied. single informational text to enable students to gain a promptArray2[10]="\"atoms or molecules.\"" promptArray3[12]="\"PASS judgment on something.\"" Described as assessments for learning rather than assessments of learning (Black and Wiliam 1998), they provide teachers with information about student understanding during instruction. function randPromptLast() The emphasis on strong verbs enables the students to focus their efforts in a particular way. (2010). The fifth module of the WAC Guide is entirely devoted to the topic of R.A.F.T. educating young adolescents. During professional development activities in For example, the RAFT strategy has been used in science classes to enable students to address environmental literacy and citizenship … promptArray3[18]="\"CRITIQUE something in a new way.\"" promptArray2[24]="\"research techniques.\"" which they implemented the CCSS for ELA/Literacy in middle grades science classes. promptArray1[0]="\"Define VAG.\"" Students as authors: Illustrated science information books With promptArray1[20]="\"a how-to manual.\"" a rock, a building, or any object. promptArrayLast[21]="\"a student deciding on his/her college major.\"" Scope, 34 Role promptArray2[22]="\"the earth's limited resources.\"" This helps fulfill (Richards & Skolits, 2009). a framework for integrated learning consistent with (Grades 4-6), Dena's And our students are much more aware of this than we give them credit for. Corbett's promptArray1[12]="\"a letter to the editor.\"" Once again, (8), 22–27. promptArrayLast[1]="\"a 6:00 o'clock newscast audience.\"" promptArray2 = new Array(numPrompts); By Dani, Danielle; Litchfield, Erin; Hallman-Thrasher, Allyson. designed to supplement them. promptArray1[27]="\"a critical response.\"" in science classes to integrate and assess science literacy, Website Science and Children. promptArrayLast[0]="\"Define VAG.\"" Accurate interpretation of kinematics graphs requires an understanding of motion concepts (e.g., displacement, speed, and acceleration) (Molefe, Lemmer, and Smit 2005). promptArray3[19]="\"EVALUATE something in a new way.\"" Learning is Messy promptArrayFirst[7]="\"a zoologist\"" function randPrompt3() { Common Core State Standards for refers to the position of promptArray3[25]="\"FORMULATE scenarios.\"" promptArrayFirst[24]="\"a virologist\"" promptArray3[11]="\"ARGUE against something.\"" more popular programs has been “Ravenous Raptors.” Please, share the resources you find on these pages freely with fellow educators, but please leave any page citations on handouts intact, and please give authorship credit to the cited teachers who created these wonderful lessons and resources. promptArrayFirst[25]="\"a veterinarian\"" function randPromptFirst() On occasion, I do revise or update a lesson here at WritingFix. skill level. promptArrayLast[27]="\"a group of potential voters.\"" The five buttons below, once pressed, will help you begin to imagine a R.A.F.T.S. document.noun3.noun3here.value = promptArray3[promptShowing]; to draw inferences and analyze interactions in the texts What is a RAFT Writing Assignment? I CREDIT HIM WITH AUTHORSHIP OF THIS SCRIPT The teachers used RAFT promptArray1[8]="\"a proposal.\"" has been increasingly emphasized in science education by Nancy Vandervanter, a middle grades English // wherever it gets copied. This strategy works in all subject areas and is great for differentiation; it can be adjusted for any topic or The promptArray3 = new Array(numPrompts); created during integrated units are windows into student The Reading Teacher, 64 (2010). Educational Research Service. Thanks. Writing across the curriculum to promptArrayFirst[14]="\"an astronaut\"" promptArrayLast[25]="\"a group of senior citizens.\"" grades 6, 7, and 8 require students to “Write informative/ comprehension and conceptual change in science education: { Common Core State Standards (CCSS), and most states promptArrayLast[14]="\"a commercial radio audience.\"" }. writing assignment have become very popular in the last decade, especially with content area teachers who are looking for ways to use more writing across the curriculum in their classrooms. promptArrayLast[29]="\"textbook publishers.\"" strategies to develop instruction about birds of prey, It's no wonder R.A.F.T. writing prompt that you or someone else could actually write about and learn from while writing. promptArrayFirst = new Array(numPrompts); Student Achievement Partners. or raptors. // Homepage: http://www.apeleon.net/~microbit/brandon.html // Make sure you don't show the same prompt 2x in a row National Middle School Association. promptShowing=0; The RAFT writing prompt engages … promptArray2[26]="\"pollution.\"" promptArray1[21]="\"a song.\"" Fisher, D., & Ivey, G. (2006). promptArray1[10]="\"a mnemonic device.\"" promptArrayFirst[13]="\"a research scientist\"" promptArray1[25]="\"a magazine commentary article.\"" Ready to try? promptArrayFirst[20]="\"a high school teacher\"" learning in all subjects. promptArray2[16]="\"biochemical weapons.\"" After the promptArray2[29]="\"genetics.\"" Making Mathematicians Carolina Aiken have had opportunities to visit the In promptArray2[23]="\"natural disasters.\"" than just writing answers to questions. promptArrayLast[8]="\"the mayor of a city.\"" Peer-reviewed publications on Questia are publications containing articles which were subject to evaluation for accuracy and substance by professional peers of the article's author(s). // Homepage: http://www.apeleon.net/~microbit/brandon.html The framework of the RAFT strategy will be promptArray1[26]="\"a 10-minute speech with visual aids.\"" The integration of literacy skills with science content This strategy requires students to supporting theory and observe the strategy in practice Becoming environmentally Students are introduced to a variety of species of raptors, or birds of prey, by observing images of them projected promptArrayFirst[23]="\"an laboratory scientist\"" Thanks. promptArrayFirst[17]="\"a stem cell researcher\"" promptArrayLast[30]="\"space aliens.\"" background of RAFT strategies, were given examples are not intended to replace content standards but are were engaged in such a way that the questions they corestandards.org/in-the-states. promptArray2[19]="\"global warming.\"" By using our website, you agree to the use of cookies as described in our, Article details, "Creative Assessment: Using RAFT Writing to...", {{filterTypeLookup[searchItem.filterType]}}, {{searchTypeLookup[searchItem.searchType]}}, Primary Sources (Literary and Historical), Full access to this article and over 14 million more from academic journals, magazines, and newspapers, Access to powerful writing and research tools. promptArrayLast = new Array(numPrompts); promptArray3[3]="\"OBJECT strongly to something.\"" Classroom writing assignments can feel very unauthentic to our students. promptArray1[29]="\"a book or film review.\"" You can also let the interactive machine below help you design a serendipitous R.A.F.T.S. numPrompts=30; promptArray1[3]="\"an important e-mail.\"" document.noun2.noun2here.value = promptArray2[promptShowing]; promptArray2[12]="\"energy and motion.\"" promptArray3[24]="\"DEVELOP a new way to consider your topic.\"" based on a science theme. // Make sure you don't show the same prompt 2x in a row promptArrayLast[15]="\"his/her boss.\"" --Corbett prevPromptShowing = promptShowing; document.noun1.noun1here.value = promptArray1[promptShowing]; Prior to the RAFT, we introduced students to the concept of uniform motion and associated academic language, engaged them in investigations of motion using computer simulations, and helped them create kinematics graphs. writing prompt about a science topic for you or for your students to write about. promptArray3[21]="\"APPLY your topic to the modern world.\"" In the real world, no one writes like this, and thus, school writing assignments can feel very contrived. promptArrayLast[17]="\"the leader of another country.\"" It creates highly engaging topics, and provides a structure that students can easily understand and teachers can coach writing. Students wrote about the motion represented in one of four position vs. time graphs (Figure 2, p. 48). // On our R.A.F.T. Thanks. The NNWP's 140-page Print Resource: Your job here is to create a R.A.F.T.S. motivates students to demonstrate understanding in (see, e.g., Bricker, Rogowski, Hedt, & Rolfe, 2010; Sinatra promptArray1[30]="\"a 'three things that are wrong with something' essay.\"" promptArrayFirst[30]="\"a forensic scientist\"" promptArray1[17]="\"a propaganda poster.\"" promptArray1[6]="\"a brochure.\"" and mathematics programs for students and teachers I CREDIT HIM WITH AUTHORSHIP OF THIS SCRIPT Previously published in Middle School Journal, January 2013. Students promptArray1[24]="\"a request for funding.\"" promptArray1[22]="\"a graphic organizer.\"" promptArrayLast[28]="\"computer program designers.\"" Center (RPSEC). Sometimes you might also assign your students a Strong Verb to keep in mind as he/she writes, transforming the R.A.F.T. //BUT CREATED ALL THE PROMPTS MYSELF. Our Favorite Book for Encouraging Writing Across the Curriculum: Retrieved from http://www. Initiative 2010). //BUT CREATED ALL THE PROMPTS MYSELF. // wherever it gets copied. Science and Children, 48 will be discussed. the interdisciplinary emphasis of CE-MIST, the RPSEC began integrating other content areas into the science draw insightful inferences from the source. E-mail: SennG@usca.edu, Deborah H. McMurtrie promptArray1[13]="\"a brief essay.\"" concepts, and information through the selection, is an associate professor at the University of South Carolina Aiken and the principal investigator for the Center of Excellence in promptArrayFirst[2]="\"a geologist\"" (2012). RAFT in science instruction. Adolescent Literacy & Learning at Clemson University; the author of the piece that is being written. in the Aiken, South Carolina area and beyond. Keyword searches may also use the operators literacy development that is promoted by the CCSS keeping science journals, and creating nonfiction

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