myPerspectives Overview

Essential Question - This frames all unit activities and discussions.

Academic Vocabulary - This is a list of words to be taught and used throughout the unit.

Launch Text - This model text for the perfomance mode introduces a perspective on the topic.

Summary - Students are always expected to write an objective summary of the launch text.

Launch Activity - This activity is done as a whole class to help students develop initial thoughts on the topic.

Quickwrite - Students are always expected to document their initial response to the essential question.

Evidence Log - This is used to document ideas and evidence from each text that will help them in their Performance Tasks.

Concept Vocabulary - These words are encountered in the text and used in a learning text afterward.

First Read - This routine is meant to be applied as students first read or listen to the text.

Comprehension Check - These questions are meant to check for students' basic understanding of the text after a first read.

Close Read - These questions in the margin of the text allow students to slow down and analyze the text more deeply.

Analyze the Text - These questions ask the students to expand their analysis.

Analyze Craft & Structure - These learning tasks relate directly to the focus standard for the given text.

Word Study - These tasks ask students to analyze words more deeply.

Conventions & Style - These tasks have students apply knowledge of conventions and style to parts of the text.

Writing to Source/to Compare - These writing tasks are meant to be brief, not as extensive as the Performance Tasks.

Speaking & Listening - These learning tasks involve reseach and/or collaboration.

Performance Task: Writing Focus - This Performance Task is directly connected to the writing focus standard and should be used as an extended/process writing task, with mini-lessons, peer review, editing, etc.

The learning task and activities listed under Whole Class Learning are also found in the Small Group Learning. Although groups may still need some guidance to complete these, the goal is the facilitate as the small groups complete them together.

Performance Task: Speaking & Listening Focus - This is a Collaborative Performance Task that will ask students to create and present as a group.

These texts are not in the physical textbooks. Students can access them online via Canvas if you have imported the appropriate module. PDFs are also available on this site within the unit. You may choose which text for students to read or allow them to choose on their own.

First Read - Students should use the routines practiced throughout the unit to complete this independently.

Text Questions - These questions can be found online or in PDFs on this site. They include Comprehension Check questions, research options, and analysis questions. 

Close Read - Students should use the routines practiced throughout the unit to complete this independently.

Performance-Based Assessment - This Performance Task is meant to be an On-Demand/Timed writing task for students to show what they have learned in the unit.