An interesting idea

As part of my quest to improve my teaching of argument writing, I came across a really neat idea.  Like most of the ideas I come across, I'm not quite sure how I will use it yet, but I think it's something that will become useful when we get to argument writing later this year.  It is from a website that is published by the New York Times, a section for educators/students called "The Learning Network."  If you haven't used it before, I highly recommend browsing some of the articles and ideas available through this resource.  With the shift to more informational text, it provides a wealth of articles on a wide variety of subjects.  Some of the articles are a bit difficult, but I've even had my seventh grade students struggle with the harder readings, just to show them that they can get the idea of what the article is about, even if they didn't know every word.  

Okay, sorry, back to argument writing.  The specific link I found with ideas for argument writing is:

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/constructing-arguments-room-for-debate-and-the-common-core-standards/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

The website provides a few ideas for argument writing, including use of their blog, Room for Debate.  This blog has posts on a wide variety of topics, and can serve as an example of how to format writing, as well as a springboard for argument writing topics.  I also like their "student opinion" questions.  These are less formal, but I think reading some of the questions, and even responding to some of them, maybe in an informal way at first, will give students the idea of, and maybe some confidence in, expressing their opinion in writing.  I believe you can also read other students' responses, and maybe that would be a way to discuss various writing styles with students.

I know there are a lot of  maybes in there, but that's how most of my ideas start.  I find something that I think will be useful, and then try it, tweaking things along the way as needed.

Now, off to help with the Jog a thon, then the staff vs. student volleyball game at school.  I know some people hate losing instructional days, and really I do too, but I also like interacting with my students in an avenue other than the classroom.  I learn things about them as individuals I may not have known otherwise.