Informational Text Staff Development I. What is Informational Text a. Agenda was reviewed and consensus reached b.

Staff in attendance were put into 2 groups i. Bo, Hu, E ii. Ha, Be, G iii. Ms. R was present but only for listening purposes c. Each group was asked to brainstorm What is Informational Text? and to record their results on chart paper. d. Groups were given the handout What is Informational Text. They were asked to read it and add to their chart paper if needed. e. One member from each group shared out. Why do I need to know? a. Staff was asked, Why do we need to know about Informational Text? b. Three staff members shared their ideas. Since it was not mentioned, Mrs. Branch stressed that, using Informational Text was now required by Common Core/Essential Standards. The DPI website was provided. c. Individuals were given a post it note and the Handout Why Include More Informational Text? They were asked to read the handout and to list 4 reasons to include Informational Text in their content area. The post-it notes were stuck to the posted agenda. How to use in the classroom a. Staff members were provided a handout that included a list of ways to use Informational Text in various content areas b. Staff was asked to share ways they have used or could use this type of text in their content c. The ways indicated were recorded on the agenda Additional Resources a. Staff was provided a list of additional resources to use while completing their homework assignment and to plan to use Informational Text in their courses b. Staff was given a homework assignment and came to consensus on the due dates for the two assignments: i. Answer the 5 questions that would be provided in a Google form by 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2013. (Sent to all BEC staff at 4:05 p.m. on Monday, March 11, 2013) ii. Using the additional resources provided and the information available on the DPI site: Create a lesson plan that includes an Informational Text activity. Provide documentation of the activity to Mrs. Branch by April 8, 2013 (the day we return from Spring Break). c. Staff was asked if they had any further questions. (None were asked) Staff was told that if they had questions as they were working on their activity to email, call or see Mrs. Branch d. A Plus/Delta Chart was sent to all staff participating in the staff development. Participants were afforded a way to provide feedback anonymously.

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