[LM_NET] TARGET: Research and writing skills

[Karl Dowell <DowellK@MUSTANGPS.ORG>]

Maggie Knapp's original post and hit on Research policies spun several
of us off into another problem that I think is widespread. And it's
central to our work.  Why is it that some students enter high school
retaining the research and writing process skills they learned through
elementary and middle schools, but many others seem to have received
little or no previous instruction, even when we know they did?  Is it
because research and research writing is not taught through the school
year as many other skills are?  Is it because English teachers learn to
write while at college, but are not taught how to teach the writing
process? (Upon graduating university with a BA in English Ed, I had
received no instruction on teaching the writing process or the research
process even though I could deal with mode averaging, teach exceptional
children and quote Piaget.)  Or is it because 9th graders are in such a
hormonal stew, they do well to remember their locker combinations?

I have struggled with this issue of forgetfulness and relearning
skills.  I am exceedingly interested in learning about others'
solutions. What sorts of programs do you have that build across grade
levels: elem to middle to high school?  What methods do you use that
enable students to retain skills from one grade to the next?  My best
results involve integration and collaboration.  But when I don't see
particular students until the "research unit" comes around again next
year, I wonder if there are better ways to do this. If you know of LMNet
Archive threads on this topic, I'm interested.

I'll post a hit.



Karl Dowell
Media Director
Mustang High School
Mustang OK
dowellk@mustangps.org

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