"What Texts Were Taught in This Course?": What, How, and Why Middle-Schoolers Read at Long-View
Traditional curricula often place high value on awareness of and exposure to the classics. But even apart from the problems with the "canon" itself—most of all, the way it has always left out so many voices and perspectives—we see the goal differently at Long-View. In Mathematics and Science, "covering" new material is only the byproduct of classroom experiences in which children learn to think and investigate like a mathematician or scientist. Similarly, in Literacy, we view fictional texts less as the content in and of themselves and more as the vehicle for accessing learner-centered experiences which develop the particular skills and habits of mind that constitute the content. These include….
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Writing for Change: Jade Band Learners Tackle Complex Social Issues in Investigative Journalism Unit
It’s not exactly news: nonfiction writing can be less than thrilling for many learners. But in Jade Band’s recent investigative journalism unit, these middle-school learners discovered new ways to deeply invest in finding and telling the true stories lying hidden all around them.
Long-form journalistic writing, a type of narrative nonfiction, is a tricky genre. To pull off an article of the sort one might read in The Atlantic, learners had to draw on and synthesize skills from many genres they’d practiced previously…
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Jade Band Learners Create Documentaries
At the end of October, Jade Band embarked on a historical research unit in Literacy Block. In this rich unit the learners completed in-depth research on historical periods and trends — with a focus on comparative analysis and the understanding of patterns rather than the acquisition of facts. For many of the learners, their substantial research was in the form of print sources, online sources, and interviews. The kids also got to practice the archival detective-work that professional historians conduct…
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Tips for Supporting Young Writers
When it comes to literacy development, parents often have a better idea of how to help their child grow as a reader than as a writer. Many parents know the importance of providing access to high-interest books, reading to their child daily, keeping an eye on reading volume, and offering a variety of texts. However, encouraging writing development can be a bit trickier, especially if you don’t have the child who already has three journals going, a plan for a story he/she wants to write, and a special stash of writing pens. Thus, we wanted to offer five suggestions for how you can help your growing writer…
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