For my first short term learning cycle, I am using the RACE strategy to teach my students to answer a question completely while citing evidence. I really like this link and the simple way this 4th-grade teacher explained the RACE strategy. My students are unfamiliar with this strategy so I chose not to formally pre-test them. I have seen several of their written responses since the beginning of this unit and determined that my students do not know how to use this strategy.

First, I will present the goal: 100 % of my sixth graders will be proficient at using the RACE strategy by the end of this 2 week cycle as evidenced by their written responses. Then, we will set the stage by outlining exactly what it is that I will do as the teacher and they will do as the student. Next, we will discuss strategies that have worked for them in the past, and make our learning plan. We will revisit the plan often over the next week!

Now it is time to learn the strategy. will share it with them and have them write it in their reading notebooks.

Rephrase the question

Answer the question

Cite specific evidence from the text

Explain how your evidence helps answer the question