What in the world is SWBSA?

Okay, I admit it...I had never heard of it before.  And, you know what it's like:  once you see something once, you see it everywhere, and that's what I'm experiencing with SWBSA.

SWBSA is a summarizing technique where students identify:  Somebody, what they Wanted, But the conflict, So what happened next, and After it was done.

Here, students are practicing the skill in their class, working with both teachers and partners to complete the activity.

Look, now, here it is in a poster!

And then, I saw it in action in a different English class with The Outsiders.  Where will I see it next? 

In all honesty, having strategies like this, as well as RAP, provide us with a systematic support system for students.  By practicing strategies in multiple classes and across grade levels, our students make connections and build skills.  The challenge that we have is to not limit our students by using the strategies.  Strategies provide a base, a foundation, but those more sophisticated learners will expand beyond them, learning to be flexible with their responses based on the given task.  Let them!

Here are some other great systems in place around the building:

Plan, Do, Study, Act:  SSD has used this approach for year, focusing on building student goals and reflecting upon progress along the way.  It's a great technique as we question "How well are we doing?"

Integrating Literacy Standards:  As we become more familiar with the CCSS, we build articulation guides in English to determine how we expand student thinking throughout the grades.  Here, students have been practicing the Listening standards by listening to a speech, using the auditory clues to make meaning.

We continue to build and refine systems for our students.  And, as long as we are willing to keep reflecting and learning (clearly, I've learned about SWBSA), we are doing the right thing for kids.