Providing models or templates for students does not mean doing an assignment for them. Models allow students to see what the teacher’s standards and requirements look like in a finished product, and offer them a point of comparison for their own work. Models can come in many forms: oral examples of participating in a discussion; projects or writing samples from other classes (anonymous and with the student’s permission); a completed math problem; or a sample page for a project. Templates provide a structure that helps students demonstrate what they’ve learned. Templates can also come in many forms: a structure for a type of paragraph or essay; a note-taking structure; or a lab-report structure. A completed template may be used as a model for students to follow.
For the full text of the Landmark Teaching Principles™, including “Provide Models,” click here.
See the attached resources for more specific examples of how to model writing in mathematics, social sciences, and science classes.
Mathematics Journal:
This activity gives students the opportunity to practice using correct vocabulary and explaining their understanding of concepts.
DownloadSocial Sciences: First Steps to Writing an Essay
This template helps students to brainstorm ideas, organize their essay, and create a thesis statement.
DownloadScience: Lab Report
This sequence and format example helps students work through the components of a lab report.
DownloadLet us know what you think! Email outreach@landmarkschool.org to share your thoughts and strategies.
