This year I teach three Year 9 Social Studies classes. In Term 2 all students sat a two-hour exam which was the first for most of our Year 9s. Despite having gone over the essay content during class time in order to help prepare the students for their exam, I was disappointed with the final results. I noticed that quite a few boys, particularly in 9PSd, had not attempted their essay section of the exam.
I have decided that I would like to focus on perhaps looking at strategies that can develop boys writing skills. I thought I would start by getting them to write paragraphs each week about something linked to what they are currently learning about in Social Studies. At the end of term two, students had completed a research on a migrant country focusing on the reasons why people leave their place of origin to come to NZ. Students were asked to write a summary paragraph showing their understanding of key concepts covered in the migration unit. I provided students with a writing frame template that they could use. I was pleased with some of the responses written by some of the boys who in the past have shown very little writing.
I enjoyed reading your blog. I like the way you have reflected on what you might do in the future. Could you tell us more about the writing framework template that you used?
ReplyDeleteThanks
Really interesting post. Great to see the boys progressing with their writing. How could we all sustain it?
ReplyDeleteGreat choice Sonya - I have tried similar stuff with my Year 9 Social Studies class but I use a blog. Could you try getting them to blog?
ReplyDeleteHi Sonya, first thought when I arrived at your blogg - FLASH!! I really like your background, I have created my first blogg and still learning so it would be great learn how you did your background.
ReplyDeleteI also like how you are coming up with a writing frame to help improve the boys' reading. Look forward to hearing more about this!