Framing our Reading Part 3: Extending Thinking

	Text Citation or Link	Rationale for Choosing	Text Frame(s)	Strategies Used and Resource
Extending Thinking Example	Studying how climate affects biodiversity	This article discusses the changes in biodiversity due to climate.	Concept/Definition	Power Notes (Buehl)

Power Notes are a form of outlining.  They can also be paired with Concept Mapping for a more in depth comprehension.  This technique gives students a way to systematically look for relationships within the text.  While similar to outlining, this strategy is simpler for students. 

Power Notes visually display differences between main ideas and supportive information.  Main ideas are assigned a power rating of 1. Details, as well as examples are given a power rating of 2, 3, or 4.

Generally, the form for power notes is shown as below.

Power 1 = Main idea

            Power 2 = Detail/Supportive information for Power 1 (above).

                        Power 3 = Detail/Supportive information for Power 2 (above).

                                    Power 4 = Detail/Supportive information for Power 3 (above).

At the introduction of this strategy, students should be given the power 1 category.  After students become familiar with this strategy, they can begin to determine the categories on their own.

There are many advantages to this strategy.  It is an excellent reviewing technique.  Students also learn to reread to prioritize main ideas.  They can be integrated with many other strategies and help show how information is connected.

I have completed Power Notes for the article listed above:

1. Climate Change

            2. Impacts species occurrence and distribution

                        3. species population fluctuates

            2. Ice Age

                        3. Cyclical number swings coincide with ice age

                        3. ice age

                                    4. compressed distribution

                                    4. falling numbers

                        3. No ice age

                                    4. expanded species

1. Human influence on Climate Change

            2. Humans modify and destroy environments and habitats

                        3. Cause decrease in population

            2. Humans upset natural cyclical number swings

                        3. numbers are pushed past “tipping point” for eventual extinction

Not all articles work well with Power Notes.  I like the idea of having an outline and rating the importance of the information with main ideas and supporting ideas.  I think that if we had chosen a longer article, there would be a little more meat to this strategy, however the benefits are obvious with this particular technique.  To explore this article using the Quick-Writes strategy, please visit Samantha's blog.

References:

Buehl, D., (2014) Classroom Strategies for Interactive Learning, 4^th ed. International Reading Association.

Uppsala Universitet. (2015, April 16). Studying how climate affects biodiversity. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 20, 2015 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150416132038.htm