Inquiry in Disciplinary Literacy

The National Writing Project and Eastern Michigan Writing Project are committed to understanding the disciplinary literacy demands suggested by the Common Core State Standards. To that end, the NWP agrees to support Eastern Michigan Writing Project in its facilitation of a study group of local writing project teachers focused on learning more about Common Core State Standards and discipline-based writing. This work furthers the NWP’s mission in relation to its Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded work known as Literacy Design Collaborative and will contribute to the larger knowledge base on the topic.

Goals:

• To develop a discipline-based definition of literacy
• To identify key standards from the Common Core State Standards: Literacy in Social Studies/ History, Science, and Technical Subjects
• To design lessons with writing outcomes for implementation in secondary classrooms
• To analyze data from classroom implementation
• To demonstrate successful practices in teaching writing in Social Studies and Science

Social Studies Inquiry Group

Facilitated by John Staunton, Co-director

Andrea Gillies              High School English Department Hd

Michelle McLemore     High School English Department Hd

Judy Wycoff                  High School English teacher

Dawn Putnam              High School English teacher

Science Inquiry Group

Facilitated by Doug Baker, Co-director

Lauren Luedtke          High School English/Science teacher

Jeff Taylor                    Middle School Science teacher

Julie King                      Middle School English teacher

Julie Blomquist            Middle School Science teacher

Heather Conklin         High School English teacher

Timeline

August 8, 2011     Orientation: Formation of Social Studies and Science Study Groups

September – December, 2011    Monthly meetings, reading, reflection,

  Design of classroom-ready lessons

January – March, 2012              Monthly meetings

  Implementation of lessons

 February 11      Disciplinary Literacy – Reading in Science and Social Studies

March 10             Public Presentations – Science Demonstration

April 14               Public Presentations – Social Studies Demonstration

May                       Final Inquiry group meeting; planning for reports

June                     Submit report to National Writing Project