Techno Lit

Technology Used: Microsoft Word, webspiration, http://calibre-ebook.com/, iPad, iPod touch, iBooks Application
Proposal: Students will write, type, and publish expository texts to an iPad / iPod to be read in iBook. With the growing use of technology and students abilities to use technology increasing, teaching students to create a text which has interactive capabilities will enhance their overall learning. Students will be able to visually connect from the table of contents to the section of the text that contains the linked topic.
The students have only just begun to experience using Microsoft Word. This project will take what they know into a more advanced application.
Connecticut State Standards:
3.1 Students use descriptive, narrative, expository, persuasive and poetic modes.
3.2 Students prepare, publish and/or present work appropriate to audience, purpose and task.
4.1 Students use knowledge of their language and culture to improve competency in English.

Connecticut Mastery Test Strands:
A.1 Determine the Main Idea
A.3. Select or use relevant information from the text in order to summarize events and/or ideas in the text.

In third grade students become more accustomed to writing of non-fiction narratives during their writer’s workshop time. They are introduced to the expository form of writing briefly. Due to the brevity of the expository exposure students aren’t always completely prepared for the Connecticut Mastery Test in the context of their own learning. It is more customary for students to be given passages with which to review, summarize and evaluate, versus performing the research, drafting, editing, revising and publishing.
By giving students the ability to synthesize their learning and develop their own expository text they will gain more understanding at the time of the Connecticut Mastery Test.
Basic Plan Outline:
1. Implement Non-Fiction Reader’s Workshop Lessons
2. Begin connecting Reader’s Workshop Lessons to Writer’s Workshop
3. Complete all lessons with regards to Expository Text Features
4. Complete all lessons with regards to Expository Text Structure
5. Students will write an expository text
a. Brainstorming topics – webspiration
b. Adding subtopics – webspiration
c. Following the classroom writing process. (paper based)

6. Students will publish an expository text following procedures using Microsoft Word
a. Create and publish a table of contents - MSword
b. Type written text – MSword
c. Learn to create headings (needs to be done to hyperlink), topics, bold print, insert photos, insert illustrations
d. Hyperlink text from table of contents to the appropriate portion of the document
7. Students will publish the expository text to an iPad by using www.calibre-ebook.com
8. If parent permission is obtained we will create a class wiki to share and provide each other with feedback for their writing during the process.
Assessment:
The Students have had baseline assessments via Connecticut Regional Education Council (CREC) on their comprehension of expository text as well as a Direct Assessment of Writing in September of 2010. These tests will be repeated in May of 2011.
Rubric will be created to assess each portion.