Lesson 5 - WEA Practice

🕐 Lesson Overview

Bellringer
What is the WEA?
WEA Practice

⭐ Objectives

I can read independently for pleasure.
I can summarize what I have read.
I can reflect on what I have read.

📏 Standards

🗽 NYSNGSS

7R2:
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; summarize a text.
7W5:
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

🗒️ Lesson Plan

Anticipatory Set

As a bellringer, students should prepare their workspace by taking out the choice book they checked out from the library in the previous lesson. While the teacher takes attendance, students should show off their books to a friend.

What about this book interested you?

Why did you pick this book out?

What do you think about the book so far (if you've begun reading it)?

If a student is not prepared with a book, the teacher will give them one to read for today. The class will then review the agenda and objectives.

Developmental Activity

The teacher will explain that WEA stands for Weekly ELA Assignment; the WEA provides regular practice used to build independent reading and writing skills (sort of like practicing your instrument outside of band class). WEAs are due on Friday of each week unless otherwise announced. It is students' responsibilities to complete the WEA outside of class.

For now, the WEA involves reading independently for fifteen minutes then writing two paragraphs about what you read. The written component may be submitted digitally or on paper. Other options for completing the WEA may be introduced as the year goes on and will be announced in class. For this week, students will be completing their WEA in class today.

The teacher will set a timer for fifteen minutes. The class will silently and independently read their books. The teacher should also read with the students to model lifelong reading practices. The teacher will then model expectations for the written component of the WEA using these guidelines:

Paragraph 1 (3-4 sentences): What did you read? How many pages did you read? What happened? Give a brief summary.
Paragraph 2 (3-4 sentences): React to what you read. Share what you found interesting or confusing (and why). Make a prediction for what you think will happen next.

The teacher should model how to do this in a Google Doc and/or on paper. The teacher will use what they read as an example.

Closure

Students will have the remainder of the period to complete and submit their WEA. If they do not finish in class, they will have to finish on their own time.