Disciplinary Literacy Virtual Library > Self-Paced Learning Modules

Module 3:  A Deeper Look at Meaningful Writing

Lessons are designed for educators wishing to increase their understanding of disciplinary literacy at their own pace.
Lesson 3.1:  Introduction—What is Meaningful Writing?
Lesson 3.2:  Disciplinary Literacy in Action—Meaningful Writing
Lesson 3.3:  Strategies for Meaningful Writing in the Classroom
Lesson 3.4:  Planning for Meaningful Writing in Your Classroom
Lesson 3.5:  A Disciplinary Literacy Concept Map Revisited

Lesson 3:3:  Strategies for Meaningful Writing in the Classroom

 Task 1: Finding Time and Purpose for Meaningful Writing

When considering meaningful writing strategies for your classroom, think to yourself “how will engaging my students in writing help develop their understanding of the concepts, help develop their thinking, or help develop their skills in mathematics and/or science?”

Some ways that meaningful writing can support learning of mathematics and science content:

  • Before the lesson—Students may write to make predictions with reasoning or to identify their prior knowledge or questions about a topic.
  • During the lesson—Students may write to review predictions with data from investigations, to record their observations, to make comparisons between the predictions and the data, to add new learning and questions, or to explain a process used to solve a problem or complete a task.
  • After the lesson—Students may write to identify cause and effect relationships, to justify claims with supporting evidence, to draw conclusions from data, or to identify questions for further study. 

Disciplinary Literacy Strategy--Two Minute Paper

Write for two uninterrupted minutes on the following prompt:

What might be some specific examples of how writing can support student understanding of content in your classroom?
Task 2: Strategies for Meaningful Writing

Explore the selection of Meaningful Writing Strategies in the Disciplinary Literacy Virtual Library. 

Identify three strategies you might use in your classroom from the list provided. 

  1. What makes the strategies you selected most interesting for you?
  2. What elements of the selected strategies seem to be a fit for the students in your classroom?