Teaching Topic Sentence and Concrete Detail for 4th-5th Grade

Hi, Dr. Louis,

I’m writing to ask for your support in reviewing the attached lesson plan on Topic Sentences.

I’ve been working with my students using the Jane Schaffer approach. That is, focusing on CDs, CMs, decoding prompts, and writing 2+:1 chunks. I believe the next step is to guide them in writing strong topic sentences based on the chunks they have already created.

The plan includes two days combined into one, as those days have shorter ELA periods. The overall goal of the plan is for the students to identify and write solid TSs.

Thanks for your support,

Faith

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Hi, Faith,

I love the way you have started. Thank you for asking me for my input. That you want to use JSWP with fidelity is wonderful and will make a huge difference with your teachers. 

I wrote on your draft, and here are the main areas I’d like you to consider revising:

1. Watch out that your Topic Sentences do not have CDs. Students will not be able to add CDs if CDs are already in the TS.
2. Watch out that your CDs don't have commentary. I show some examples.
3. How do the students create their CMs? Where did they come from? This is the missing part of your lesson. You're assuming that they can come up with CMs without a tool. I think you'll find that the T-Chart will be your very best friend when teaching students how to think on their own. From elementary to high school, teachers tell me all the time that the T-Chart is the best of all the graphic organizers. we can't assume that a student can automatically come up with words like "comfortable." When they brainstorm on the T-Chart, it becomes much easier for them to create commentary and not be redundant or simply paraphrase the CD. I created a T-Chart series -- step-by-step. You would just use the one T-Chart, but I show the progression of thinking and writing sentences, which I think will help.

I hope this guidance is what you hoped for. I’m excited that you are working on honing your craft. That’s what a master teacher does!

Warm regards and Happy Spring!

Always,

Dr. Louis

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Documents:

Teaching TS and CD at 4th and 5th

Changing Seasons T-Chart