The content area that I am addressing is 4th grade Language Arts. Specifically, I’ll be addressing citing sources in research writing and projects. I would like students to be able to cite sources using a uniform style similar to MLA.
Before students come to us in 4th grade, they do engage in some research writing. However, listing sources is not a Common Core Standard and is something the students don’t have practice with. The idea of attribution seems like a foreign concept to many of the students, and for many of my students of refugee status, it is. It is the first time information has been so readily available to them and the idea that information can belong to someone is a little baffling.
All grade-levels at my school are required to complete a research writing unit that aligns with the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA) Writing Units. These writing units are created by teachers who work in schools which belong to the association. Michigan has also adopted the Common Core State Standards, which have standards on citing sources. The 4th grade standard states, “Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; take notes and categorize information, and provide a list of sources” (CC.SS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.8). In the 4th grade there has not been a consistent format for students to follow in regards to citing their sources. Some teachers in my team have had students list URLs and book titles as a way to cite their sources, and I followed suit. Other teachers don’t have the students list their sources at all. I would like to take this opportunity in 4th grade to introduce a specific style of citations to these students so they are prepared for later grades.
Before students come to us in 4th grade, they do engage in some research writing. However, listing sources is not a Common Core Standard and is something the students don’t have practice with. The idea of attribution seems like a foreign concept to many of the students, and for many of my students of refugee status, it is. It is the first time information has been so readily available to them and the idea that information can belong to someone is a little baffling.
All grade-levels at my school are required to complete a research writing unit that aligns with the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA) Writing Units. These writing units are created by teachers who work in schools which belong to the association. Michigan has also adopted the Common Core State Standards, which have standards on citing sources. The 4th grade standard states, “Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; take notes and categorize information, and provide a list of sources” (CC.SS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.8). In the 4th grade there has not been a consistent format for students to follow in regards to citing their sources. Some teachers in my team have had students list URLs and book titles as a way to cite their sources, and I followed suit. Other teachers don’t have the students list their sources at all. I would like to take this opportunity in 4th grade to introduce a specific style of citations to these students so they are prepared for later grades.