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In these examples we demonstrate that if our intentions are clear and communicate to students what they will be learning, why they are learning it, and what successful learning will look like, teachers across subject areas will then be able to communicate how students are progressing and where instruction will take the class next (Hattie, 2018).
Mrs. Doyle communicates her intentions for instruction to students in eighth grade Algebra and provides an agenda for how the class will unfold. The agenda includes literacy task cards to promote conversations around solving and graphing compound inequalities.
Joy
An intention for impacting literacy learning across content areas matched with the what (standards and skills) and how (strategies) will undoubtedly cultivate an environment for helping all learners succeed, but we also have to ensure that these efforts are not at the expense of joyful teaching and learning. Favorable school environments have been linked to higher levels of student engagement, motivation, and achievement (Berkowitz, Moore, Astor, & Benbenishty, 2017). As literacy teachers and content-area specialists, we can spend time taking risks in order to bring joy back into the classroom. Although risk-taking sounds contradictory to the concept of joy, the act of taking action results in celebratory successes around student growth and achievement in the content areas. By taking a chance on integrating literacy in the content areas, teachers can (1) design instruction that is comprehensive and not just “balanced,” (2) expose students to many of the new literacies that are involved with reading, writing, speaking, literacy, and viewing experiences, and (3) create future-ready critical thinkers. A focus on taking risks is just one of the many ways to bring joy back into focus for teaching and learning and a few examples are highlighted below.
An anchor chart for reading and analyzing nonfiction engages students in considering what they know, what learning is confirmed, and uncovered misconceptions. Students read closely to consider what they still wonder and what they have learned. Inquiry is encouraged through reading, researching, and reaching out to experts to learn more.