Peer Review

Traci's Lists of Ten

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Feb 14, 2005 by Teacher Education

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: Traci's List of Tens is a website that provides references materials that enable
teachers to prepare their students to become critical thinkers in the writing
process. The topics in this web site range from how to create interesting lesson
plans to teaching students to make sound judgement in using technology to
support their writing. This website can be a useful resource for writing
teachers at all levels, from K to college. A special feature of this site is
that it offers thought-provoking ideas and suggestions for teachers in
implementing technology in their writing lessons. Teachers can find intriguing
information about literature, media literacy, modes of writing, technological
literacy, MOOs for teachers, and writing process.
Type of Material:: Reference material.
Recommended Uses:: This material would be very effective when used in pre-service language and
literacy methods classes, and by teachers of writing and literature at the
elementary, midddle, high school and university levels.
Technical Requirements:: Internet browser
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Teachers will learn different ways to teach writing creatively. This web object
is dedicated to providing quick tips for teachers at all grade levels in
effective pedagogy in the area of language and literacy. They will be able to
develop strategies to involve students to become more critical writers.
Target Student Population:: The target population is teachers, both in-service and pre-service.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Basic familiarity with Information technology and terms such as PowerPoint,
Chat, and MOO would be helpful.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: Traci's List of Tens is organized around ten topics in writing as its
name suggests. This site offers practical ideas for teaching writing based on
the author's own experiences in the classrooms. There are outside links of
examples and lesson plans at K-12 levels that teachers can use and adapt in
their own teaching. In addition, this website offers unique perspectives on
creating student-centered writing lessons.

Traci Gardner is an educator and writer currently working as Online Content
Developer on ReadWriteThink for the National Council of Teachers of English
(NCTE) in Urbana, Illinois, where she writes lesson plans, designs online
curricular materials, and manages the Web servers for the project. The content
is up-to-date, best practice, and extremely useful.
Concerns:: None.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: This website contains good ideas and examples that can be readily adapted. The
lists are effective, quick prompts which teachers can use to make their
literature and writing assignments engaging. The items are open-ended enough to
allow faculty members to find uses in their own particular situations.
Concerns:: None.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: The site lends itself to easy navigation. All links are well organized and
displayed to lead the readers to their preferred places.

Other Issues and Comments:: This type of web object is extremely useful for teachers, both experienced and
novice. They are able to use the lists to develop lesson plans and augment
already good practice.
Creative Commons: