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Transactive Writing: Transactive Writing: |
IntroductionIntroduction This environmental reader was developed by the JCPS Center for Environmental Education and the UL Center for Environmental Education to serve two purposes. First, to provide UL Honors Colleges students with a creative way to think about their course content relating to environmental issues, and the opportunity to express their knowledge in forms (genres) that were new to them. Second, to use the work of the UL Honors College students to provide information to middle school students about their local environment in forms (genres) that they would be learning to use as a part of their middle school writing curriculum, as well as providing reading material that supports the middle school reading core content. This project is an example of how members of the Partnership for a Green City work together to promote environmental literacy both for schools and community. The Partnership is made up of Jefferson County Public Schools, the University of Louisville, and Louisville Metro Government. These institutions together have a tremendous impact on our community, and strive to make Louisville Metro a “greener” city through the partnership. To find out more about the Partnership for a Green City go to www.partnershipforagreencity.org. When integrating environmental education into classroom culture and curriculum it is often difficult to find reading material that is relevant to the experience of the students. This reader does just that. The UL Honors classes learned about local watersheds and related issues; children, asthma, and environmental factors; and environmental education. They reported their knowledge through informational writing, persuasive letters and editorials, literary writing (including short stories, poetry, and monologues) personal writing (narratives, memoirs, essays) and reviews. This format brings new content knowledge to middle school students while modeling writing genres that they are learning about. The writing pieces are organized by genre with student materials following each section. These materials include:
Students will notice that while learning about the local environment they are learning about science, social studies, reading, practical living, and writing. This is the nature of real-world, authentic instruction. The realization that the content areas are connected is the big AHA! …what we learn in school helps us navigate the path of being a responsible adult and citizen. Enjoy, and please share your comments with us, and even your EE writing for the next version of the EE Reader. Donna Griffin Project Leader for the Middle School EE Reader Donna Griffin |
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