3.+RAFT

 //3. RAFT Reading Strategy – Utilizing – After Reading Strategy//


 * R = Role of the writer. What is my role as the writer? (for example, a student, an expert, a reporter, a first person observer of history)
 * A= Audience to whom the writing is directed. For whom as I writing? (for example, peers, teacher, administration, public, legislators)
 * F=Format in which the writing will be done. What form should I use for this writing? (for example, journal, letter, essay, dialogue, poem, laboratory report)
 * T=Topic about which the writing will be done. What topic will I write about?

· Rationale: I intend to use this reading strategy when we do our writing activity of our “Dear Grandparent Letter.” This will give students an idea of what format and what details their letters should have. It also helps them develop voice and understand how to write for an audience. I think this is a good activity or letter-writing essay for students to undertake so that they can develop proper writing skills. Students who have been writing in journals, logs, and notetaking, need help to plan for writing for an audience. RAFT guides students in considering questions about the author’s role or voice, audience, format, and topic. Writing for publication is a powerful learning experience recommended for utilizing phase of instruction because it gives students an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of content material with a polished product for a real audience. · Courses in which it could be implemented: RAFT can be implemented in Language Arts writing courses. I think it also could be used in history while studying about slavery, students could write a letter as a slave and what their lives are like in slavery. This is a way to use the content taught in history with writing for an audience. · Diverse learners: All learning styles can benefit from this, especially students who enjoy writing their thoughts down on paper. Students who are auditory and visual will benefit from this strategy. It explains the writing roles and what students must consider when they are drafting a piece.

· Procedure: 1. The teacher presents RAFT and appropriate examples for the content area. 2. Use brainstorming, the class practices generating and discussing responses to the four questions until everyone understands what must be taken into consideration with each one. 3. Then student, individually, in pairs, or in small groups use RAFT as they plan their writing for publication.

· Potential Issues: It is probably beneficial to consider the T for topic first because it usually influences all other decisions. Then students should consider the other four questions and do a quick overview.

· References (Bibliography Information & Cross reference the Resource Binder):

=<span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"> Greece Central School District Website. (2004). Retrieved April 2009 Website: [] =

125 practical reading and writing ideas. //Strategies for utilizing// (pp. 176-177). Norwood, MA: Christopher-Gordon.**
 * Stephens, E. C., Brown, J. E., (2005). A handbook of content literacy strategies:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; msoansilanguage: en-US;"> =<span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(**All Cross Referenced in E-portfolio Reading in the Content Area 465 Reading Strategies Resource Binder.) =

= //<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">An Example: //<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> Tina Workman RAFT Design Application Role: Future Grandmother or Grandfather Audience:  = = Future Grandchild Format: Letter Topic: What is my life like at age 14 years old? = = = = Dear Future Grandchild: = = = = I don’t know your name or even whether you are a boy or a girl because I am only 14 years old. This is a writing assignment in English class. We are to write a letter to our future grandchild to tell you what life is like right now at my age of 14. Well, life is pretty good. I live with my mom and dad, your future Great-Grandparents and my 3 sisters, your future Great-Aunts. I live in a small town and there isn’t much to do. We do go out to the Recreation Center and play sports once in awhile. My girlfriends and I like to play tennis. Really we just try to hit the ball; we don’t keep score. We go to movies. We saw __Kung Fu Panda__ the other day and it was entertaining. There were lots of other kids in the theatre that we knew so we had a good time. One person threw popcorn at some other kids and he got kicked out of the movie. I also go to school of course, but I don’t always like to go. I enjoy English and math class. I’m kind of good at writing. My teacher told me she thinks I have a very imaginative mind. I guess that is good. I hope you enjoy school when you are my age; it makes it less of a chore. I like all my teachers, except a few. One teacher constantly lectures us on our behaviors. It is annoying because there are only a few who act up or blurt out things in the middle of class, the rest of us obey most rules and try and listen. Every day, however, she goes off on a tangent lecturing us about our behavior. When you are in 8th grade, you don’t want to hear that all of the time. Well, I have an ipod, a telephone, and a laptop computer. I don’t know what new technology you’ll have when you get my age, but I’m sure it will be really cool. My mom and dad, you’re future Great-Grandparents, said they didn’t even have a VCR, cable TV, or remote controls. That must have been the dark ages. I can’t imagine that. I don’t have a boyfriend, but I like this one guy. He is cute, but I don’t think he knows I exist. He talks to a bunch of other girls, so he probably likes one of them. We are going to Arkansas to see my Grandparents, you’re Great-Great-grandparents. I love this trip because we go through the mountains and it is hilly and when you go around curves or down hills, your stomach “tickles.” We have big dinners and all of my dad’s relatives come to visit. Every summer we take this trip, at Christmas, and on Easter too. It is a long trip, but we have fun. I like eating at different restaurants, seeing the views, and wrestling around in the back seat with my sisters. My parents get annoyed with us though. I like to wear jeans, or in the summer, jean shorts and a t-shirt. We have these cool shirts now that say things, but they don’t really mean much. We have stores like Abercrombie that we like to shop at, but with 4 girls in the family we don’t get to go shopping too much. We are middle class, but my sisters get most of my hand-me-downs. I like to shop, especially at the mall. I found this cute necklace there the other day and I bought it with the money I made helping my Dad mow lawns. It is heart-shaped and has a ruby, I think, in it. It may not be a real ruby because the necklace wasn’t very expensive. It’s cute anyway. My Mom and Dad, your great-grandmother and great-grandfather, are pretty nice most of the time. My Dad works a lot and is pretty strict. He works for the railroad and also mows lawns for a few people. My Mom stays home with us and she isn’t as strict. Maybe someday I’ll get to meet you and hand you this letter in person. = = = =  Love, Future Grandmother <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">    =