Writing in the Margins 01

Post date: Apr 7, 2017 2:01:12 PM

WHAT IS IT?Writing and drawing in the margins is an active reading strategy that asks students to analyze and interact with a text, using either note in the margins or sticky notes to make comments and raise questions in preparation for discussion or writing tasks.WHEN SHOULD I USE IT? 

When (and how often) students are asked to write in the margins will depend on the reading task and the students’ knowledge of the strategy. When introducing this strategy to a class, have students write in the margins as a purposeful rereading, applying only one or two of the strategies as they reread sections of the text. Students who are already familiar with writing in the margins could employ this strategy while reading a text for the first time. Whether this strategy is being taught for the first time or for the tenth time, students should be guided and supported until they have learned how to use it independently. This independence is gained through the constant use of the strategy with various types of texts.WHY SHOULD I USE IT?Writing in the margins challenges students to think about and clarify ideas in a text as they read. The focus for the notes in the margin depends on the purpose for reading and what will follow (e.g., discussions or writing assignments). This practice is often included in close reading and other critical reading strategies. Notes in the margins can be used to engage with the reading when the student has a copy of the text that they can keep. Otherwise, sticky notes offer a way to mark a text and can be easily removed for subsequent readers. Sticky notes also have an additional benefit in that pages can be tabbed and color-coding can be used to signal different kinds of thinking. When the notes are removed, they can be placed on plain paper to serve as a record of a student’s thinking throughout the text. The teacher can use the collected notes as an assessment of learning.

We are going to look over a News Article: PBS Newshour Extra: Year-Round Program Commits Kids to Education. (Use headphones for video)

Download PBS Year-Round School Commits to Students to your DocHub so we can write in the margins.

This Handout will find Handouts that can help you.