Instructional Minute
October 11, 2022
Integrating Literacy and Discussion
Reading, writing, and speaking are powerful vehicles for inquiry. When students analyze texts, discuss perspectives, and write to express conclusions, they deepen both content knowledge and critical thinking.
Examples:
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K–2: Shared reading of informational texts followed by a “turn and talk” to share discoveries.
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3–5: Use historical fiction to explore different perspectives on the same event.
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6–8: Facilitate structured academic discussions or Socratic seminars around civic questions.
💡 Reflection Prompt:
What opportunities do your students have to read, write, and talk like historians, geographers, or citizens?
CER, as a model for writing, stands for Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning. This writing strategy can be used in any subject matter and shows up on the PSAT and SAT as a recommended argumentation model for written responses. Decoding a CER model is also a great comprehension and critical thinking skill.
Steps of CER
- Claim: Students answer a question or make a statement
- Evidence: Students provide data or examples to support their claim
- Reasoning: Students explain how the evidence supports their claim
When to use CER
- In science classes to help students think like scientists
- In argumentative, persuasive, or analysis essays
- To develop analytical thinking and argumentative writing skills
Example of CER
- Claim: Water in a wide, shallow dish evaporates faster than in a narrow, deep glass.
- Evidence: In a classroom experiment, the wide dish's water level dropped faster over a week.
- Reasoning: The wide dish has a larger surface area, which allows for more evaporation.
Ensuring Consistency with Daily Instructional Minutes
These guidelines are in place to ensure that all students have access to a guaranteed and viable curriculum—one where every learner receives the essential content and skills needed for success.
Intention to daily instructional minutes supports learning retention, builds routines, and ensures equity across classrooms and schools.
By adhering to the daily instructional minutes, we create:
Consistency – Students know what to expect and can build stronger learning habits.
Equity – Every child has access to the same high-quality learning opportunities.
Progression – Skills and content build in a logical, intentional sequence.
Your commitment to this practice ensures that our students benefit fully from the curriculum we’ve adopted and are better prepared for future success. Thank you for your dedication to maintaining this consistency for all learners.
