Standard: 4.W.6 – With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of one page in a single sitting.
Grade level: Grade 4
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: Writing
Teacher Overview
This standard emphasizes the integration of technology in writing tasks, which is crucial for developing 21st-century skills. It encourages students to use digital tools not just for typing, but for publishing, collaborating, and enhancing their writing process. Students need to have basic keyboarding skills and a foundational understanding of writing simple paragraphs. Familiarity with basic computer operations is also essential.
After mastering this standard, students will be able to use advanced digital tools for writing and collaboration, enhancing their overall writing proficiency and preparing them for more complex writing tasks in the future.
Common Misconception 1
Some students may think that using technology for writing is solely about typing. This is incorrect because technology can also aid in editing, collaborating, and publishing, which are integral parts of the writing process.
Intervention 1
Introduce students to various digital tools that enhance writing, such as spell check, grammar check, and collaborative features in word processors. Demonstrate how these tools can improve their writing.
Common Misconception 2
Students might believe that planning is unnecessary when using a computer for writing. This misconception overlooks the importance of pre-writing activities, which are crucial for organizing thoughts and ideas.
Intervention 2
Teach students the importance of pre-writing activities, such as brainstorming and outlining, even when using digital tools. Use graphic organizers and digital mind-mapping tools to facilitate this process.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should have basic keyboarding skills, familiarity with using a computer, and an understanding of how to write a simple paragraph before tackling this standard.
Subsequent Knowledge
After mastering this standard, students will develop more advanced writing and editing skills, including the ability to use additional digital tools for collaboration and publication, and will be able to type longer documents efficiently.
Instructional Activities
- Have students create a class blog and publish their stories.
- Set up a collaborative writing project using Google Docs.
- Assign a typing exercise where students write a one-page report on a chosen topic.
- Organize an online writing workshop where students can give and receive feedback.
- Use a word processor for students to write, edit, and format a personal narrative.
