Working as a Research Team Day 1: 4 A’s Protocol

The purpose of this structure is for you to experience an approximation of the close reading, text-dependent questioning, use of evidence, and discussion strategies that the Common Core requires. In this experience you will read a common text, annotate it, capture evidence and reflections on the recording form on the next page, then discuss with your team.

Today you will use a the 4 A’s Protocol to guide your work and discussion over the course of the next hour or so.

You will need:

·  A Facilitator. This person’s job is to keep the group on task with this work. The Facilitator should read all of the following instructions with the group and keep the group moving along through the steps.

·  A Timekeeper. You must have a watch or a phone with a stopwatch. Be kind but bossy. Give you group one minute warnings so they can prepare to transition.

The protocol begins with you all reading “Why Text Complexity Matters” from Appendix A of the Common Core Standards. If you have already thoroughly read this appendix, you may read “Engaging the Adolescent Reader” instead. Whichever article you choose, read it once, in its entirety, annotating as you wish (with kids, obviously, this “as you wish” gets a great deal more attention! More on that later.) Take about 15 minutes for this initial reading.

Then re-read to answer the following questions, underlining or highlighting the information needed to support your answers (again, the “reveal” of these questions is different with kids). Take about 10 minutes re-reading and making notes regarding these questions:

1.  What is “complex text?” Use specific information from the texts in formulating your answer.

2.  According to the text, why is it important to provide secondary students with regular practice with complex text?

3.  What specifics from the text describe how close reading is different from pleasure reading or skimming for information (Fisher and Fry article only)?

Finally, organize your thinking on the 4 A’s Recording Form on the next page. Take about 5 minute for this.

Then, discuss each of the A’s with your group. Talk about each “A” for up to five minutes. The facilitator needs to make sure everyone gets a chance to say what they are thinking. The timekeeper will help the group transition through all of the “A’s”

Once your discussion is completed, check in on the Norms for Collaboration. How did your team do? Take 5 minutes to discuss.

4 “A’s” Protocol Recording Form

From the Text: Agreements
What evidence does the text provide for the shift to more complex text? Do you agree with these claims? Why or why not? / From the Text: Aspirations
What did you read about that you aspire to or will need to implement although you aren’t fully doing so yet? What evidence does the text provide that encourages your aspirations?
From Your Experiences: (Mis)alignments
What things might keep you from changing or implementing your aspirations or priorities? / From Your Experiences: Adjustments
How can you get around or eliminate those barriers? What support do you need? What next steps will you take?