Article Bank

[Jen P]

It was mentioned more than once on the Article of the Week discussion, so here goes: a thread to post articles of the week (with thanks to Kelly Gallagher for getting us all started on this http://kellygallagher.org/resources/articles.html).
I'm attaching the practice one I did last week and today's. Again, my apologies and thanks to the teacher who came up with the stuff in the box (I got it in some workshop a couple of years ago and don't remember who to credit).

[Jen P]

One of the articles on izzit (http://www.izzit.org/events/index.php) looks like it would make a good Article of the Week -- note that they take them down on Sunday and then start with a new article each day. (The others for this week look good too, of course -- I just found this one more interesting)

"Genocide" in Darfur isn't what it seems (from the Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0819/p09s02-coop.html

[Jen P]

Here's the one I'm doing for this week.

Anyone else care to share the articles they are using?

[Julie Bowerman]

This is the one that is due tomorrow for my freshmen. They will have an option to read their textbook online at home, so this seemed appropriate: "In a Digital Future, Textbooks are History."
http://nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20090907mond...

[Carrie]

Jen: How did the 8-31 practice article go? And what grade level are you using these with? I'm teaching ninth graders, and am struggling with knowing what's at that "just right" level of challenge and comprehensibility for them. Thanks.

[Jen P]

I used it with advanced and low level juniors and that only difficulty for them was determining audience. After I pointed out that the article appeared in Wired magazine, they did a little better. I'm finding as I grade the 9-7 article ("A Struggle Taming Any Debate"), they are still having trouble determining audience.

[Daniel Sharkovitz]

Jen,

Just wondering whether the students that you describe as "low level juniors" welcome this term? Do their parents? Is this a typical way that teachers in your school choose to view some students? Do you think that this phrase may be viewed by some in your school and/or community as pejorative? Just curious. While at first read the phrase seems to me a bit unusual, I welcome any help you can give me so that I can better understand its usefulness. (On a personal level, I would not want my son's teachers to describe him in this way, though I am willing to listen to your explanation and perhaps change my mind.)

I wonder how the teachers in my school would feel if during the next faculty meeting the principal divided us into groups of "high level" and "low level" teachers?

Thank you.

Dan

[Tanya Forbes]

Our school has also placed students based on CST results and placement scores. Unfortunately, they know this because they get an extra period with me called "ELA support". I try to stress that they are lucky they have me every day and my other class has half the time to do the same work.

[Carrie]

Thanks, Jen. I'm going to dive into AoW this morning. I decided to use one of the articles from Izzit, about a 13-year old Dutch girl who has been, at least temporarily, put under state care to prevent her from sailing, solo, around the world. I think the freshman will be interested because she is only a year younger than many of them, and they are currently thinking about all the new freedoms that have been granted them as high school students. I'll post the link to the article in reply to the main thread.

[Phil Nichols]

If they are struggling with audience, I recommend doing an interactive activity focusing specifically on building those skills. I recognized a similar problem in one of my classes this year. One of the easiest ways for students to begin thinking about intended audience is through advertisements. I usually show my students a few commercials and ads that I cut out from magazines and laminate and have the students work individually, then discuss in groups, who they feel the intended audience is.

I found this helpful with 7-9th graders. Maybe it will work with your juniors as well.

[Jen P]

Good idea -- thanks!

[Clix]

BTW, you can access old articles on izzit at http://www.izzit.org/events/archive.php

[Michelle Schneden]

I don't have an article to submit, but I thought you might be able to use the handouts I've attached. I received them from a College Board, AP Language training three years ago and have used them to teach nonfiction with all levels since.