Opinions and Multiple Perspectives

Common core standards have an emphasis on explaining thinking and defending answers.  Luckily, our first grade scholars love to share their thinking!

Here is one of our new common core standards for writing:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.1
Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure.

We have been working on sharing our opinions and agreeing/disagreeing respectfully in class discussions.  This standard pairs nicely with the depth and complexity icon for different points of view and multiple perspectives.  Here is some of the work that we have done to build understanding of forming opinions, sharing our reasons for opinions, discussing opinions respectfully, and changing our minds after hearing other friends' opinions that are supported by strong reasoning.

 We wrote about the best part of our body.  Opinions included eyes, ears, hands, lungs, mouth, legs, feet, heart, chest, skin, and many more.

 The scholars shared opinions on what Mrs. Smith should dress as for Halloween and explained their thinking.

We surveyed the class to find out what our favorite Halloween decorations are.