Differentiated RAFT Strategies for Engaging Writing Across the Curriculum
RAFTs, an engaging high-level strategy, encourage students to assume roles, consider audiences, write in specific formats, and explore topics. This method motivates students by offering choice and aligning with their interests and learning profiles. Differentiating RAFTs by readiness involves assigning roles, audiences, formats, and topics based on students' levels. Analyzing a RAFT lesson involves assessing learning goals, differentiation strategies, appeal to various learning styles, and the range of difficulty across roles, formats, and readiness levels.
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A RAFT is An engaging, high level strategy that encourages writing across the curriculum A way to encourage students to --assume a Role --consider their Audience --write in a particular Format --examine a Topic
RAFTS Motivate By giving students choice By appealing to their interests and learning profiles By adapting to student readiness levels
Possible RAFT Formats to Differentiate by Learning Modality Written Visual Oral Kinesthetic Diary entry Bulleted list Obituary Invitation Game rules Recipe Movie critic FAQs Editorial Gossip column Cartoon/Comic Crossword puzzle Map Graphic organizer Print ad Photograph Fashion design Song Monologue Radiocast Museum guide Commercial Interview Puppet show Political speech Story teller Model Cheer Mime Demonstration Sales pitch with demos Sew, cook, build Wax museum Game September 2013 Krystal Coker
Differentiating a RAFT by Readiness (Teacher assigns RAFT or choices of RAFTs based on students reading, writing or performance levels) Roles/Audience Well-known people or charters to lesser known Basic essential items (vocabulary, inventions, elements, etc.) to more esoteric items Easier to understand point-of-view to more intangible perspective Formats (while offering choices to students) Shorter to longer (in prep, process or presentation) More familiar to more unfamiliar formats Single step to multiple steps September 2013 Krystal Coker
Differentiating a RAFT by Readiness (continued) Topics Easier to interpret to more sophisticated Concrete & literal to more abstract response More structured to more open-ended Small leap in insight & application to larger leap September 2013 Krystal Coker
Analyzing a RAFT Lesson What are the learning goals for this lesson and are they built into every choice? How is this RAFT being differentiated? Does it appeal to different learning styles? Is there a range of difficulty in the: Roles? Formats? Readiness levels? Do the roles, formats or topics appeal to a variety of interests? September 2013 Krystal Coker
Ways to use RAFTs Assess prior knowledge before a unit Centers/Stations Exit Ticket Warm Up/Bell Ringer Formative assessment Alternative to a traditional assignment And the list goes on September 2013 Krystal Coker
RAFTs and Word Walls You have these lovely word walls now what? Integrate word walls into your RAFTs! This will provide scaffolding within the differentiation by giving the students a word bank to use when they are writing. or require students to use a certain number of words from the word wall into their RAFT assignment. September 2013 Krystal Coker
Examples You are Ulysses on your journey home from Troy after being gone for over ten years. Write a letter to your wife, Penelope, explaining why you won t make it home for dinner, again. Role, Audience, Format, Topic, Strong verb
Math Examples You are a multiplication fact sending an invitation about a family reunion to a division fact describing how you are related. You are a fraction preparing directions for the baker on how to double the recipe. Fractions and mixed numbers write a persuasive letter to 6thgraders reminding them why they can t live without them.
Science Examples Plant sends thank you note to sun for the sun s role in the plant s growth. Lungs send complaint letter to cigarettes emphasizing the effects of smoking. Trout writes a newspaper article about the effects of acid rain. Moon prepares an advice column for astronauts on what to expect when they visit.
RAFTS can Be differentiated by readiness level and student interest. Be created by students (blank row). Be used as an alternative to a traditional assignment. Be used as a warm up/bell ringer or exit ticket. Be used as a formative assessment.
Lets try it! Grade level groups Select a topic you teach Think role, audience, format, verb Planning together is better!
