Classroom Video Modules

Inferencing is something we do all the time, but often students don’t realize this is a skill they naturally use. Ms. Ramsey uses a simple photograph to help her students recognize all the information they can infer from the photo. The exercise is used as a springboard to having the students work together to determine what they can infer from passages they read. Grade 6: Language Arts

In this lesson, Ms. Ramsey helps her students work as “experts” to plan a piece of procedural writing written for a “novice” audience. Ms. Ramsey guides students in using an organizational structure that includes an introduction, steps, materials, domain-specific vocabulary, background, and a conclusion. Grade 6: Language Arts

Domain-specific vocabulary and transitional words are two important parts of explanatory writing. In this lesson, Ms. Ramsey provides her students with a chance to flesh out both using a graphic organizer. Working in pairs, the students consider their topics and the words they could use to enhance their writing. Grade 6: Language Arts

Sixth grade history teacher Jodi Hoard prepares her students for a close reading of a text about Meresamun, a temple singer in Ancient Egypt. In this clip, Ms. Hoard shows students how to read for the key idea and supporting details. Grade 6: History

In this clip, Ms. Hoard “thinks aloud” as she annotates the first section of text from the day’s reading on Ancient Egypt. Ms. Hoard models taking notes on challenging vocabulary words and concepts. She also shows the students how to fill-in the graphic organizer. Grade 6: History

Ms. Hoard’s 6th grade students work on their own and with partners to navigate a text about Meresamun, a temple singer in Ancient Egypt. Ms. Hoard helps her students to identify key ideas, to discuss some details and to draw inferences from what they’re read. Grade 6: History

Students hone their skills in writing an argument by working to refute or defend a complex prompt provided by their teacher. Grade 11: AP English

History teacher Johanna Heppeler guides her students through a process of “sourcing a document,” which includes looking at the speaker, the occasion, the audience, the purpose and the tone. Grade 11: History

Students read closely to analyze the text from Lincoln’s Inaugural Address in an effort to understand what can be learned by studying specific words and phrases. Grade 11: History

Ms. Heppeler sets the stage for an ambitious multi-day unit examining four key documents from President Lincoln: his first inaugural address, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address and the second inaugural address. She helps students draw inferences from Civil War-era photos, cartoons and maps as well as the primary texts. Grade 11: History