Thank You!

I'm posting special thanks to those who participated in my workshop, "Using Writing to Increase Content Understanding in Non-Language Arts Classes," at the recent National Middle School Association conference in Baltimore. The mix of participants—classroom teachers, curriculum supervisors, literacy coaches, and administrators—was refreshing, and active interaction made the workshop a joy to conduct. Thanks, too, to those of you who took time to comment, whether in person or by email.

The workshop was based, in part, on my book, Writing for Understanding (at right). So anyone who wasn't able to get to NMSA can find what they need in that publication. Now, please consider giving me some feedback on this blog—and sign in to become a follower.

Tip #17 - Writing to Be Heard

Consider asking students to write a five-minute audio newscast. Why? Not only will they practice writing skills, they’ll also be tapping into current events, building content understanding, and gaining immediate feedback on their writing when other students listen to their broadcast.

Teams of two or three reporters/writers can compose and record their newscast, which also builds teamwork and collaboration skills. And because this type of writing mimics radio news, which can't use visuals, students get to work on their descriptive skills, too.

Want to ramp up this idea? Then ask students to work in groups of two or three to write a radio sketch—a kind of mini-play script. Encourage students to:

• Base the three- to five-minute sketch on a favorite short story scene or a historical incident.
• Think about not only dialogue but also sounds and background music.
• Practice/rehearse a few times until they are comfortable with their work.
• Record their sketch.

Share the students’ recordings and discuss how doing the project changed what and how they learned.

The recordings don’t have to be sophisticated to be effective. If you need audio sketch or drama examples, check out Internet Archive’s Audio Archive. The site is a treasure trove, especially for old-radio buffs.