Writing Frames

How will it work in the classroom?

• Designing your Lesson Plan

  Writing frames can be incorporated into any subject area and any grade level that requires students to write.

  Student objectives will vary depending on the subject area. The objectives below will be an example of language arts objectives

  Students will:

  • Articulate a position using strong present tense verbs.
  • Organize their writing in logical and coherent forms
  • Develop supporting detail using complete and varied sentences.
  • Use strategies to help their comprehension, to locate and use information, and to synthesise and adapt what they learned from their reading.
  • Use correct spelling and punctuation and follow grammatical conventions.
  • Use content specific vocabulary.

  Guiding Questions for the Students:

  • How can I communicate so others will understand?
  • How can words be used to paint a picture?
  • Why is writing important?
• High Level Procedures

  Identify one type of extended writing which is important in your subject that causes students difficulty, in terms of understanding the different elements they need to include, and the subject-specific vocabulary they need to use.

  When designing a writing frame it is important to consider:

  • The topic covered by this particular exercise and the desired learning objectives.
  • The type of writing that the students are expected to do (e.g. report, investigation, persuasive writing).
  • Examples of subject-specific vocabulary that students should use.

  
  By providing a clear structure, and some helpful vocabulary for them to use, it is possible to create a template for a writing frame which will help the students produce the desired writing. If the template is saved in Word (Save As… template) then the students can work with the frames on-screen adapting them to their own needs. Any changes they make will only affect their own work and the original template will remain unchanged for future and repeated use.

  Assessment: you will assess the work your students complete as you would any writing they do for you. You may choose to have your students do some peer editing prior to turning in their work. You might then assess using a writing rubric. If the work is for a specific content area, your rubric would include content specific focus areas.

  Open the documents below to see some examples for writing frames.

  Science - Upper elementary example:

  Science

  Research example:

  Paper Chase

  Middle school science example:

  Severe Weather

  This site has excellent examples for English:

  10 Examples

  YOUR TURN: Preparation of Your Lesson Plan

  Go to your Planning packet where you will find a lesson plan template for you to create a lesson using writing frames. If you have a specific template that your school uses, please use it. Please meet with your colleagues and present your teaching project for review and discussion.

  As you are completing the template - think about the following Lesson Plan Evaluation Checklist

  1. Are there specific lesson objectives? Are these appropriate for your pupils?
  2. Do the writing prompts require higher order thinking?
  3. Do materials and activities take into account the learning styles of students?
  4. Is there enough time for students to ask questions and collaborate with other students?
  5. Is there built-in formal and informal assessment procedures?

  YOUR TURN: Classroom Implementation

  Teachers need to think beyond the nuts and bolts of their lesson plan. They need to think of potential challenges and solutions to those challenges. They need to think about specific pupils and how they may have to adapt the lesson to meet those students needs. Please go to your Action Plan and complete Part 2 - Classroom Implementation on your Action Plan.

  Present your lesson plan drafts and materials you have generated to each other.
  Compare your work with that of your team members. If you are working on a plan together, check to make sure everything will fit together coherently.
  Revise your materials as a team if necessary.