I’m always looking for simple short-cuts to lesson planning because I know that a lesson is made or broken right when I get my plans in my plan book…or not! Winging it is not a great lesson planning tool! 🙂
Here are some simple questions I use when I am writing/lesson planning a short or long prompt for writing in response to text we’ve read. (These are the Common Core Writing Standards W.1, W.2, W.3)
- What is the level of complexity? (Is this a Depth of Knowledge -DOK – Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 Standard for my grade level)
- What language from the standards should I use? (What particular terms/academic language/vocabulary do I need to sprinkle in my prompt so that my kids will use it in their response?)
- What stimulus will I provide? (This is the actual prompt itself)
- What text dependent evidence do I expect? (What do I want kids to cite or include in their response)
- What type of writing will be produced? (argument/opinion, informational, narrative, response to literature, etc.)
- What is the length of writing? (Short form produced in one setting or multi-day writing piece)
- Is the response formal/informal? (Do I need them to use formal writing processes or do I just want them to get their ideas down?)
- What should the reader know by the end of the piece? (What is the purpose and outcome for the reader?)
Here are my planning notes from a recent writing prompt:
- What is the level of complexity? (DOK 2)
- What language from the standards should I use? (Compare)
- What stimulus will I provide? (The Shadow of the Hills)
- What text dependent evidence do I expect? (Two references from the text to support their answer)
- What type of writing will be produced? (Informational piece about the legend of the sunrise in the pueblos)
- What is the length of writing? (1-2 paragraphs)
- Is the response formal/informal? (Formal, using language from the text)
- What should the reader know by the end of the piece? (Five facts about the legend of the Shadow of the Hills)