Standard: 5.W.8 – Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources.
Grade level: Grade 5
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: Writing
Teacher Overview
This standard emphasizes the importance of gathering and summarizing information from various sources. It is crucial for developing research skills that will be beneficial across all subjects. Mastery of this standard will enable students to effectively gather, interpret, and present information, which is a foundational skill for academic success. Students should be comfortable with basic reading comprehension and identifying main ideas and supporting details. They should also have some experience with note-taking and summarizing simple texts.
After mastering this standard, students will be able to conduct more advanced research, evaluate the credibility of sources, and integrate information from multiple texts. These skills will be essential for more complex projects and assignments in higher grades.
Common Misconception 1
Some students may believe that it is acceptable to copy information directly from sources without putting it into their own words. This is incorrect because it can lead to plagiarism, which is unethical and does not demonstrate true understanding.
Intervention 1
To address this, provide practice exercises focusing on paraphrasing and summarizing. Use examples to show the difference between copying and paraphrasing, and explain the importance of using one’s own words.
Common Misconception 2
Another common misconception is that all sources are equally reliable. This is incorrect because not all sources are created equal; some may be biased or outdated.
Intervention 2
Teach students how to evaluate the credibility of sources by looking at the author’s credentials, publication date, and the purpose of the source. Use examples of reliable and unreliable sources to illustrate these points.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should have basic reading comprehension skills and the ability to distinguish between main ideas and supporting details. Familiarity with note-taking and summarizing simple texts is also helpful.
Subsequent Knowledge
Students will develop advanced research skills, including evaluating the credibility of sources, integrating information from multiple texts, and presenting research findings in a coherent and organized manner.
Instructional Activities
- Have students research a topic and create a summary using multiple sources.
- Conduct a class activity where students evaluate the reliability of different sources.
- Assign a project where students must gather information from both print and digital sources and compile their findings.
- Create group activities where students must summarize information and present it to the class.
- Use graphic organizers to help students take notes and organize information from their research.
