EDC 665--Blog 5

Melissa asks "Blog: Identify a standard that impacts your local environment or practice. Reflect on the value of the standard and its intended affect on student learning."

My work environment is surrounded by standards, especially state standards.

One standard that I am focusing on in my classroom this week is (4th grade):

2.0 Writing Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)
Students write compositions that describe and explain familiar objects, events, and experiences. Student writing demonstrates a command of standard American English and the drafting, research, and organizational strategies outlined in Writing Standard 1.0.

Using the writing strategies of grade four outlined in Writing Standard 1.0, students:
2.2 Write responses to literature:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the literary work.
2. Support judgments through references to both the text and prior knowledge.

Writing is a huge component in fourth grade because the students are assessed on their ability to write a composition for the CA STAR test (Writing competencies are given to 4th and 7th graders in CA)

My students have to know a variety of genres and are given a prompt that will focus on one during the test.

I chose this standard for two reasons:

1. it is something that I am currently working on
2. it is an important standard for children to know (in life)

Value of the Standard

Writing a response to literature is an important part of writing that is used throughout school career through college and possibly beyond. Being able to analyze literature and the meaning behind the author's purpose is very challenging and so giving your own judgment to the author's meaning.

Intended affect of student learning

This standard will require students to dig deeper and really analyze what they have read. It forces the student to critically think and use higher order thinking skills. Some teachers use and only assess basic knowledge and regurgitate information, but this standard forces students to think deeper and become analytical. I think that it is important that the students know that there is no one right answer and that as long as they defend their thoughts, they will be okay.