Focusing on
Purpose and
Meaningful Work
Douglas Fisher
www.fisherandfrey.com
TEACHER RESPONSIBILITY
“I do it”
Focus Lesson
Guided
Instruction
“We do it”
Collaborative
“You do it
together”
Independent
“You do it
alone”
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
A Structure for Instruction that Works
In some classrooms …
TEACHER RESPONSIBILITY
“I do it”
Focus Lesson
Independent
“You do it
alone”
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
In some classrooms …
TEACHER RESPONSIBILITY
Independent
“You do it
alone”
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
And in some classrooms …
TEACHER RESPONSIBILITY
“I do it”
Focus Lesson
Guided
Instruction
“We do it”
Independent
“You do it
alone”
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
TEACHER RESPONSIBILITY
“I do it”
Focus Lesson
Guided
Instruction
“We do it”
Collaborative
“You do it
together”
Independent
“You do it
alone”
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
A Structure for Instruction that Works
Quality Indicators for
Linking Purpose to
Outcomes
The established
purpose
focuses on
student
learning, rather
than an activity,
assignment, or
task.
The established purpose contains both
content and language components.
Students
understand the
relevance
of the established
purpose.
Relevance
requires…
…making connections between the
subject and its application outside of the
classroom walls.
What is a language purpose?
• An analysis of the language demands of
the task
• An understanding of the way students
demonstrate their thinking through
spoken or written language
Three Types of Language Purposes
• Vocabulary: (specialized, technical)
• Structure: (the way the vocabulary is
used in sentences to express ideas)
• Function: (the intended use of those
ideas)
These language purposes build upon one
another over a series of lessons.
Vocabulary
• Specialized
– Words whose meaning changes depending on the
context (problem, simplify, value)
– Multiple meaning words (run, place)
These can be “brick” or “mortar” words
• Technical
– Words that represent one concept only
(denominator, photosynthesis)
These are the “bricks” of language
Language Structure
• Grammar/syntax: rules for language use
(e.g., plurals, noun/verb agreement)
• Signal words: guideposts to support
understanding of listener/reader (e.g., If/then,
first, last, compared to)
• Frames and templates: scaffolds for
apprentice language users (“On the one
hand, ________. But on the other hand,
_______.”)
Language Function
• Halliday identified 7 language functions
(Instrumental, regulatory, interactional,
personal, imaginative, heuristic,
representational)
– These are translated into classroom interactions
(express an opinion, summarize, persuade,
question, entertain, inform, sequence, disagree,
debate, evaluate, justify)
The “big a-ha”
The same content objective can have many different
language purposes!
CO: Identify the phases of the moon.
LP #1: Name the phases of the moon. (vocabulary)
LP #2: Use sequence words (first, next, last) to
describe the phases of the moon. (structure)
LP #3: Explain how the moon, earth, and sun move
through the phases. (function)
Relevance
requires…
…opportunities to
learn about oneself as
a learner.
Relevance
requires…
… learning for
learning’s sake.
Students can
explain the
established purpose
in their own
words.
Physical properties: Characteristics or
properties that can be observed without
changing the identify of the substance are
called physical properties.
Shape
Electricity conductivity
Color
Magnetism
Volume
Mass
Buoyancy
Classify objects (e.g., rocks, plants, leaves) in accordance
How would you want your
students to respond to the
question:
What are you learning from this
lesson?
The teacher designs meaningful
experiences and outcomes
aligned with the established purpose.
INDICATORS
Complexity of task: The task is a
novel application of a grade-level
appropriate concept and is designed so
that the outcome is not guaranteed (a
chance for productive failure exists).
Joint attention to tasks or materials:
Students are interacting with one
another to build each other’s
knowledge. Outward indicators include
body language and movement
associated with meaningful
conversations, and shared visual gaze
on materials.
Indicators of Success - Productive Group Work DRAF T
4-Exemplary
3-Applying
2-Approaching
Task reflects purpose and what was
Tasks provide multiple, clear
The task is somewhat reflective of
modeled. The task allows students an
opportunities for students to apply the purpose of the lesson, but there
opportunity to use a variety of
and extend what was modeled.
is little opportunity for student
resources to creatively apply their
Students have an opportunity to
experimentation or innovation.
knowledge of what was modeled.
use a variety of resources to
Students have an opportunity to
creatively apply their knowledge
experiment with concepts.
of what was modeled.
Students ask critical questions of each
Body language, visual gaze, and
Body language, visual gaze, and
other, developing and forming
language interactions provide
language interactions provide some
personal opinions and conclusions.
evidence of joint attention to the
evidence of mutual attention to the
They are able to evaluate and
task or materials by all members
task or materials by most members.
synthesize information, as well as
of the group. Students can explain Students are not holding each other
independently use a variety of
their contributions and the
accountable for purposeful
resources to acquire new or unknown
contributions of other group
contributions.
information.
members.
Argumentation not arguing: Student
use accountable talk to persuade,
provide evidence, ask questions of one
another, and disagree without being
disagreeable.
Students reach a better understanding
or consensus based on evidence and
opinions provided by others. Students
hold each member of the group
accountable by using questioning
strategies and evidence to persuade or
disagree. The conversation is
respectful and courteous.
Language support: Written, verbal,
teacher, and peer supports are
available to boost academic language
usage.
Sentence frames are differentiated
based on students’ proficiency and
need. A wide range of frames are
available for students and students use
the frames independently in academic
language and writing. Teacher
modeling includes the use of frames as
well as academic vocabulary and high
expectations for language production.
Teacher role: What is the teacher
doing while productive group work is
occurr i n g ?
Teacher is purposeful in scaffolding
using prompts, cues and questions and
checks for understanding regularly.
Evidence collected during this time is
used to plan further instruction.
Groups are flexible and change based
on students’ proficiency, academic
need, and/or content area. Productive
group work occurs throughout the day.
Grouping: Small groups of 2-5
students are purposefully constructed
to maximize individual strengths
without magnifying areas of needs
(heterogeneous grouping).
Students ask for and offer
evidence to support claims.
However, members continue to
maintain initial beliefs or
positions about a topic without
considering the arguments of
others. The conversation is
generally respectful but some
members may not participate.
Students use one or two sentence
frames from the variety that are
available in a structured setting.
A set of target vocabulary is
available and used. Teachers
model the use of frames.
Students are encouraged to use
the language support in guided
instruction and productive group
work.
Some scaffolding and checking
for understanding occurs but there
are delays in corrections or
changes to the instruction. There
is a link to further instruction.
Purposeful heterogeneous
grouping occurs which are fluid
in response to students’
proficiency.
There is a process in place for
accountable talk. However, student
dialogue is limited and there are
minimal efforts to support the
product. The conversation is
generally respectful, but is often
dominated by one member of the
group or veers of-topic.
1-Limited
Task is an exact
replication of what was
modeled, with little or no
opportunity for student
experimentation with
concepts.
Students divide up the task
so that they can work, then
meet near end to assemble
components. Body
language, visual gaze, and
lack of language
interactions provide
evidence of independent
work occurring within the
group.
No clear process is in
place to facilitate
accountable talk. Lack of
structure is evidence as
students are off-task, in
conflict, and/or are unable
to complete product.
Academic language related to the
concept/standard is present. A
frame may be provided. The
teacher models at least once using
target vocabulary or language
frame. Students are encouraged to
attempt using target vocabulary
without opportunities for guided
practice.
Vocabulary is posted but
its use is not modeled.
Students are simply told to
use words. Language
frames are not provided.
Scaffolding or checking for
understand occurs but is not used
to plan further instruction.
Teacher manages, but
does not interact with
groups to scaffold
conceptual knowledge.
Some heterogeneous grouping
occurs, but homogeneous grouping
practices dominate. Decisions
based on assessment are not
apparent.
Grouping practices are
solely homogeneous and
are done primarily for
scheduling convenience.
Quality Indicator #1
Complexity of Task: The task is a
novel application of a grade-level
appropriate concept and is
designed so that the outcome is not
guaranteed (a chance for productive
failure exists).
Quality Indicator #2
Joint attention to tasks or materials
Students are interacting with one another
to build each other’s knowledge. Outward
indicators include body language and
movement associated with meaningful
conversations, and shared visual gaze
on materials.
Quality Indicator #3
Argumentation not arguing:
Student use accountable talk to
persuade, provide evidence, ask
questions of one another, and disagree
without being disagreeable.
Quality Indicator #4
Language support: Written,
verbal, teacher, and peer supports
are available to boost academic
language usage.
Quality Indicator #5
Grouping: Small groups of 2-5
students are purposefully
constructed to maximize individual
strengths without magnifying areas of
needs (heterogeneous grouping).
Quality Indicator #6
Teacher role: What is the teacher
doing while productive group work is
occurring?
The teacher has a plan for
determining when the established purpose
has been met.
Error
Mid-sentence capitalization
Period 1
JC
Period 2
Colons and semicolons
JC, JT,
AG, DL,
TV
EC,
MV,
WK
Ending punctuation
JC, AG,
SL
JC, JT,
DL,
MM,
SL, ST,
ND
DS
WK,
MW
RT, VE,
VD, CC
Subject-verb
Tense - consistency
SJ, JM
Spelling
JC, MM WK,
RT, AG,
SJ
Supporting evidence
JC, JT,
MM
EC, SJ
Period 3
Period 4
AA
Period 5
AA,
SK,
MG,
EM,
BA, TS
AA, BA
HH, DP,
MR, CH
AA,
MG,
SC,
PM, LG
DP, DE
AA,
TR, PC
AA,
MG,
BA,
GL, PT,
DO,
DE, LR
AA,
MG,
BA,
GL, PT,
DO,
DE, LR,
SK,
EM,
TS, LG,
PM,
DP, RT,
HA, KJ,
DE,
RC,
DW,
DL, KS,
DE
MR
SR, DC,
MF
DE, MR,
DC, AT
Purpose = Expectations
Taking it Back
Discuss with your elbow partner how you will
infuse this discussion on PURPOSE with your
current work.