This document outlines strategies for supporting adolescent literacy, including universal design for learning, backwards design, inquiry and thematic teaching, and assessment of learning through student journals. It discusses using essential questions, different types of questions, and encouraging literate conversations to develop students' thinking. The goal is collaborating to support all learners in various subject areas.

1. Adolescent Literacy
Quesnel, Jr/Sr School ELA & RT
Feb. 24, AM, 2016
Slideshare.net/fayebrownlie/
quesnel/adolescent/feb

2. Frameworks for Learning
It’s All about Thinking (English, Humanities, Social Studies) –
Brownlie & Schnellert, 2009
It’s All about Thinking (Math, Science)– Brownlie, Fullerton,
Schnellert, 2011

3. Universal Design for Learning
MulGple means:
-to tap into background knowledge, to acGvate
prior knowledge, to increase engagement and
moGvaGon
-to acquire the informaGon and knowledge to
process new ideas and informaGon
-to express what they know.
Rose & Meyer, 2002

4. Backwards Design
• What important ideas and enduring
understandings do you want the students to
know?
• What thinking strategies will students need to
demonstrate these understandings?
McTighe & Wiggins, 2001

5. Inquiry and Thematic Teaching
• EssenGal quesGon
• Gradual release of responsibility
• Open-ended quesGons
• Co-creaGng criteria for journals
• Journal selecGons used for AoL
• Krista, Mehj & Leyton in It’s All about Thinking (English, Social
Studies, Humani;es)
• Grade 8 English

6. Essential Question
• How are hope, knowledge, and friendship
necessary for the survival of the human spirit?

7. Right There
Factual Ques1ons:
-can locate an answer by finding it
directly in the text…poin1ng
Think and Search
Interpreta1ve Ques1ons:
-search for details, then put them together to
shape an answer
Author and Me
Personal Input QuesGons:
-search for informaGon in the text
and fill in knowledge gaps with their
personal background knowledge
On My Own
EvaluaGve or AppreciaGve QuesGons:
-ongoing inquiry quesGons that can be applied
to many situaGons…search for outside sources
of informaGon to support your opinion

8. Right There
Factual Ques1ons:
-What are some ways that the guide
uses his knowledge to help others?
Think and Search
Interpreta1ve Ques1ons:
-Is the guide’s knowledge unique or special
in some way?
Author and Me
Personal Input QuesGons:
-In our society, or in your experience, do
you know of people who have knowledge
like the guide?
On My Own
EvaluaGve or AppreciaGve QuesGons:
-Is knowledge the same as wisdom?

9. Assessment of Learning - Journals
• Students choose 3 journal responses for their
mark.
• Students may rework any of their responses.
• Self-regulated learning: deciding on and
pracGcing what you feel is most important –
gives control.

10. Encouraging Literate Conversations
• The post-it note explosion☺
– The author used exquisite language.
– The author created strong emoGon in you!
– You have a clear image.
– You have a quesGon.
– What happened causes you to say “Wow!”
– You have found phrase you want to use.
– From Student Diversity, 2nd ed.

11. Beginning with images…

16. Marco Cianfanelli, of
Johannesburg, sculptor
50 ten metre high laser cut steel plates set into
the landscape, represen5ng the 50 year
anniversary of when and where Mandela was
captured and arrested in 1962 (prior to his 27
years of incarcera5on). Standing at a
par5cular point (presumably the spot where
the people are standing in Photo #2), the
columns come into focus and the image of
Mandela can be seen. At Natal Midlands

17. • Brownlie, Fullerton, Schnellert – It’s All about Thinking –
Collabora1ng to support all learners in Math & Science, 2011
• Brownlie, King - Learning in Safe Schools – Crea1ng classrooms
where all students belong, 2nd ed, Pembroke Publishers, 2011
• Brownlie, Schnellert – It’s All about Thinking – Collabora1ng to
support all learners in English & Humani1es, 2009
• Brownlie, Feniak, Schnellert - Student Diversity, 2nd ed., Pembroke
Pub., 2006
• Brownlie, Jeroski – Reading and Responding, grades 4-6, 2nd ediGon,
Nelson, 2006
• Brownlie - Grand Conversa1ons, Portage and Main Press, 2005
• Brownlie,Feniak, McCarthy - Instruc1on and Assessment of ESL
Learners, Portage and Main Press, 2004