What is "power thinking?"
Power thinking is a strategy which enables students to read for what is important vs. what is not so important and to write in an organized, cohesive manner. It sets a specific purpose for reading/ writing tasks across all areas of the curriculum. When modeled appropriately for students, it serves as a valuable tool for the outlining stage of writing as well as a retelling or summary strategy.
Power 1: The Big Idea. The Power 1 is the main idea, general term, or category ... the most important category. (In any given task, there will be only one Power 1.)
Power 2: The Details, Supporting Ideas. Three supporting ideas/ themes in Power 2 allow for substantial branching out of subsequent details.
Power 3: Supporting Details, Evidence or Examples (tos upport Power 2)
Power 4. As with Power 2, each new power must support the previous one with related information.
Power Thinking Graphic Organizer
Sample Power Writing Questions: Grade One