Women We Admire

Building Interviewing and Report Writing Skills

Stage of Literacy Development:

Stage 2: Consolidation / Fluency
Stage 3: Literacy for Growth

Ages:

5-10

Grade Range:

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Food Groups:

Primary:
Text Structures & Genres, Writing Processes & Strategies

Secondary:
Oral Language & ELL

Activity Description

Preparation:

Photocopy Activity Directions worksheet
1. Each student will need 1 copy

Implementation:

Session 1:

Introduce the activity
1. Discuss the theme of the month and brainstorm a list of honorable women
  - For example: mother, grandmother, aunt, sister
2. Discuss and have the students brainstorm a definition for the word admire
  - You may wish to record definitions on a piece of chart paper
Review the Activity Directions worksheet
1. Explain that each student will choose a woman that he/she admires
2. Tell the students that they will gather information about the woman that they selected by conducting an interview with her
Model how to conduct an interview using the interview questions from the worksheet
1. You may want to role play the interview with a student
Explain that each student will present their information in a report
Model writing a report
1. Write the heading Report Writing at the top of a piece of chart paper
2. Use the interview questions as a guide
3. Have the students share ideas to include in the report
Explain that each student will share his/her report in an oral presentation
1. You may wish to have students include a photo or an illustration of the woman they chose to interview
Have students complete interviews at home
1. You may want students to complete their reports at school or as part of the homework assignment

Session 2:

Have each student share their presentation orally with the class

Adaptations For

English Language Learners/ESL:

- Allow the student to conduct the interview in his/her first language
- Allow the student to present the information orally to a small group of students or the teacher alone
- Reduce the number of required interview questions

LD/Reading & Writing Difficulties:

- Provide the student with alternate interview questions which are leveled at his/her ability
- Prior to taking the questions home, provide a number of opportunities for the student to practice reading aloud the questions
- Allow the student to record the interview and present the recording to the class

Cultural Appropriateness & Diversity:

- Encourage students to conduct the interview with their family member in their first language
- Include basic interview questions and be sensitive to anyone who does not wish to answer all of the questions

Differentiated Instruction:

- Allow the interview to be recorded and have students present their audio or visual recording

Related References

Evidence:
Jones, P. (2010). Teaching, learning and talking: Mapping the trail of fire. English Teaching: Practice and Critique, 9(2), 61-80.

Activity Objective

The goal of Women We Admire: Building Interviewing and Report Writing Skills is to help students understand the process of gathering and organizing information and to provide students with an opportunity to practice their oral communication skills.

What You Need

Prep Time:

20 minutes
- Photocopy Activity Directions worksheet

Task Time:

2, 45 minutes sessions

Session 1:
- Teacher introduces activity and discusses theme
- Teacher and students review the Activity Directions worksheet
- Teacher models how to conduct an interview
- Teacher models how to write a report

Session 2:
- Students present reports

Materials Required:

Teacher:
- Chart paper
- Markers
- Activity Directions worksheet

Students:
- Activity Directions worksheets

What You Do

Teacher Role:

Direct instruction:
- while teacher discusses theme and reviews worksheet

Modeling:
- while teacher models how to conduct an interview and how to write a report

Facilitator:
- while students present reports

Student Grouping:

Whole class:
- during introduction of activity, review of worksheet, modeling an interview and modeling writing a report and student presentations

Individual:
- during interview

Assessment Ideas:

- Use a rubric to assess oral communication skills

- Provide anecdotal comments on the written report and indicate how each student can improve for next time

Quick Tips

Activity Extensions:

- Have the students select another honorable woman or person from history, research this person and write a biography about this person

- Display reports, photos and other related information around the classroom or on project boards and organize an open house by inviting family members into your classroom

Additional Comments:

- Encourage students to find out new information about the women they will interview. Allow students to add interview questions with your approval.

- Modeling how to conduct an interview through role play will help visual learners see an interview in action.

- When modeling how to write a report emphasize the importance of including catchy words. Clearly show the beginning, middle and end of the report by using 3 different colors.

- Have students prepare for the interview by reading through the questions in pairs or small groups. Provide oral feedback to the students as you observe them as they conduct their "practice interviews."

- Interviewing a friend provides another opportunity for students to conduct an interview and practice their oral communication skills. This is a great activity to plan for the beginning of the school year.

Other Adaptations/Modifications:

- Allow report to be written using a typing program or speech-to-text software program