Here are a few ideas that I loved learning about in this weeks reading.....
*Graphic Organizers are a great way to help the students learn to organize and analyze ideas.
*A Conversational Roundtable is a great way for students to discuss 4 different aspects of a topic.
*Evaluation Checklist is an awesome way for students to evaluate how well they worked.
*Developing Clarity About Learning Goals is great way for students to break down the steps of what they should know, should understand, and what they should be able to. This would be a great idea use in the classroom starting new units.
*I love the Novel Think-Tac-Toe! I love how the students have options.
*I love the idea of writing in your journal before and after learning a new idea.
This section is filled with so many useful ideas that I will for sure many copies for in my own classroom. I am looking forward to seeing how they benefit my students and me as a teacher!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Chapter 7
This was by far my favorite chapter!!!! Here are a few quotes I liked...
"All students are highly engaged in learning, and make material contributions to the success if the class by asking questions and participating in discussions, getting actively involved in learning activities, and using feedback in their learning. The teacher ensures the success of every student by creating a high-level learning environment; providing timely, high-quality feedback; and continuously searching for approaches that meet students needs."
"It's really all quite simple. Learning is hard work. People learn better when they feel valued and supported. To value and support learners, we must know them."
"Teaching is more efficient and effective when it matches the learners needs."
"It's really quite simple. Teaching is about building sound lives through the medium of the most worthwhile knowledge, understanding, and skill."
"It's quite simple. Effective teaching is responsive teaching. It begins with creating ties to each child. It begins with taming the fox."
"If we allow ourselves to fall in love with what we do, we will be born countless times, almost always in a form stronger and more fully human than the one that preceded it. Thus it may be that to teach more responsively, more effectively, we ultimately need to accept two challenges. First, we need to cultivate passion for what we do. Second, we need to remove our protective armor and allow our students to shape us, reflecting on and learning from what we see."
I wanted to end with this quote, because it is filled with the passion I want when I become a teacher. I have truly enjoyed reading, Fulfilling the Promise of the Differentiated Classroom, it is filled with stories and strategies that I will use in my future teaching. I want to thank Carol Ann Tomlinson for her words of wisdom.
"All students are highly engaged in learning, and make material contributions to the success if the class by asking questions and participating in discussions, getting actively involved in learning activities, and using feedback in their learning. The teacher ensures the success of every student by creating a high-level learning environment; providing timely, high-quality feedback; and continuously searching for approaches that meet students needs."
"It's really all quite simple. Learning is hard work. People learn better when they feel valued and supported. To value and support learners, we must know them."
"Teaching is more efficient and effective when it matches the learners needs."
"It's really quite simple. Teaching is about building sound lives through the medium of the most worthwhile knowledge, understanding, and skill."
"It's quite simple. Effective teaching is responsive teaching. It begins with creating ties to each child. It begins with taming the fox."
"If we allow ourselves to fall in love with what we do, we will be born countless times, almost always in a form stronger and more fully human than the one that preceded it. Thus it may be that to teach more responsively, more effectively, we ultimately need to accept two challenges. First, we need to cultivate passion for what we do. Second, we need to remove our protective armor and allow our students to shape us, reflecting on and learning from what we see."
I wanted to end with this quote, because it is filled with the passion I want when I become a teacher. I have truly enjoyed reading, Fulfilling the Promise of the Differentiated Classroom, it is filled with stories and strategies that I will use in my future teaching. I want to thank Carol Ann Tomlinson for her words of wisdom.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Chapters 5 and 6
"Teachers shape lives, not by providing a sturdier network of social services, not by helping the child explore the psyche, not be standing on the sidelines and providing strategies designed to capture the game point, but by equipping students with the intellectual wherewithal necessary to make their way in a world that increasingly demands academic preparation for full societal participation."
I started this post with this quote, because I thought is was powerful. This quote shows how priceless a teacher really is. Chapter 5 covers five elements of effective curriculum and instruction. The 5 elements are: Important, Focused, Engaging, Demanding, and Scaffolding. I found some key ideas for each element and they are...
Important- What we study is essential to building student understanding.
Focused- Whatever we do is designed to get us where we need to go.
Engaging- Students see themselves and their world in the work.
Demanding- Standards for work and behavior are high.
Scaffolded- Criteria for classroom operation and student behavior are clear to the students.
"Curriculum and instruction that are important, focused, engaging, demanding, and scaffolded give the students lofly things to do, establish an environment crafted on relationships and procedures that maximize the likelihood of success, tap into what matters to the learner, and build bridges between today's realities and the vision of tomorrow's suceess."
Wow... right now I can only dream of having a classroom like the one described in the quote above. I think if teachers applied these 5 elements in their classrooms, they would be amazed with the outcome.
Chapter 6 shares strategies for the 5 elements.
Strategies for Important, Focused, and Engaging
-Focus student products around significant problems and issues
-Use meaningful audiences
-Help students discover how ideas and skills are useful in the world
-Provide choices that ensure focus
-Look for fresh was to present and explore ideas
-Share your experiences and invite students to do the same
Strategies for Demaning and Supported
-Use tiered approaches
-Incorporate complex instruction
-Use a variety of rubrics to guide quality
-Provide learning contracts at appropriate times
-Aim high
-Take a "No Excuse" stance
-Become computer savvy
-Help students realize success is the result of effort
-Use the New American lecture format
-Designate a "Keeper of the Book"
-Try ThinkDots
-Directly teach strategies for working successfully with text
-Use think alouds
-Use small group instruction as a regular part of instructional cycles
-Establish peer networks for learning
-Promote language proficiency
-Use weekend study buddies
-Make peer-critique or peer-review sessions a regular feature
-Cue and coach student responses
-Team with Resourse Specialists
I thought this was an awesome chapter... there were so many helpful ideas to help establish the 5 elements into your classroom. I will honeslty take to heart these helpful strategies and incorporate them into my own classroom.
I started this post with this quote, because I thought is was powerful. This quote shows how priceless a teacher really is. Chapter 5 covers five elements of effective curriculum and instruction. The 5 elements are: Important, Focused, Engaging, Demanding, and Scaffolding. I found some key ideas for each element and they are...
Important- What we study is essential to building student understanding.
Focused- Whatever we do is designed to get us where we need to go.
Engaging- Students see themselves and their world in the work.
Demanding- Standards for work and behavior are high.
Scaffolded- Criteria for classroom operation and student behavior are clear to the students.
"Curriculum and instruction that are important, focused, engaging, demanding, and scaffolded give the students lofly things to do, establish an environment crafted on relationships and procedures that maximize the likelihood of success, tap into what matters to the learner, and build bridges between today's realities and the vision of tomorrow's suceess."
Wow... right now I can only dream of having a classroom like the one described in the quote above. I think if teachers applied these 5 elements in their classrooms, they would be amazed with the outcome.
Chapter 6 shares strategies for the 5 elements.
Strategies for Important, Focused, and Engaging
-Focus student products around significant problems and issues
-Use meaningful audiences
-Help students discover how ideas and skills are useful in the world
-Provide choices that ensure focus
-Look for fresh was to present and explore ideas
-Share your experiences and invite students to do the same
Strategies for Demaning and Supported
-Use tiered approaches
-Incorporate complex instruction
-Use a variety of rubrics to guide quality
-Provide learning contracts at appropriate times
-Aim high
-Take a "No Excuse" stance
-Become computer savvy
-Help students realize success is the result of effort
-Use the New American lecture format
-Designate a "Keeper of the Book"
-Try ThinkDots
-Directly teach strategies for working successfully with text
-Use think alouds
-Use small group instruction as a regular part of instructional cycles
-Establish peer networks for learning
-Promote language proficiency
-Use weekend study buddies
-Make peer-critique or peer-review sessions a regular feature
-Cue and coach student responses
-Team with Resourse Specialists
I thought this was an awesome chapter... there were so many helpful ideas to help establish the 5 elements into your classroom. I will honeslty take to heart these helpful strategies and incorporate them into my own classroom.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Chapter 3/4 Letter to Jaremy
Dear Jeremy,
In my Differentiation Class, Jamie explained the hardships you are dealing with currently, and my heart goes out to you and your students.
"Teaching is fundamentally about building lives. Differentiating instruction focuses on the uniqueness of each child's life as well as its commonalities with all other lives. To build lives in a differentiated classroom means building them both collectively and individually (pg24). In my class we learn about 5 key teacher responses to students needs and they are: Invitation, Opportunity, Investment, Persistence and Reflection. I am going to break them down....
Invitation The teacher's words, demeanor and actions meed to communicate the following:
1- I respect who you are as well as who you can become.
2-I want to know you.
3- You are unique and valuable.
4- I believe in you.
5-I have time for you.
6- I lean when I listen to you.
7- This place is yours too.
8- We need you here.
Opportunity The teacher's words, demeanor and actions meed to communicate the following:
1- I have important thing for you to do here today.
2-The things I ask you to do are worthy things.
3- The things I ask you to do are often daunting.
4- The things I ask you to do open new possibilities for you.
5-The things I give you to do here help you become all you can be.
6- You have specific roles here that make us all more efficient and effective.
Investment The teacher who communicates investment to learners makes it clear:
1- I work hard to make this place work for you.
2-I work to make this place reflect you.
3- I enjoy thinking about what we do here.
4- I love to find new paths to success.
5- It is my job to help you succeed.
6- I am your partner in growth.
7- I will do what it takes to ensure your growth.
Persistence The teacher needs to help students understand that this is a place where persistence is a hallmark. To do that, the teacher must communicate the following:
1- You're growing, but you're not finishing growing.
2- When one route doesn't work, there are others we can find.
3- Let's figure out what works best.
4- There are no excuses here, but there is support.
5- there is no finish line in learning.
Reflection Not only do teachers benefit from reflective practice, but students derive important messages from reflective teachers as well. To the student, a reflective teacher communicates the following:
1- I watch you and listen to you carefully and systematically.
2- I make sure to use what I learn to help you learn better.
3- I try to see things through your eyes.
4- I continually ask, "How is this partnership working?"
5- I continually ask, "How can I make this better?"
Jaremy I hope my thoughts help you in this time of need. I know you are going to make a great teacher, because you are making time to see the invisible. These students need you Jaremy! Don't be the one who gives up on them. Be the one who makes the difference. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sincerly,
Mallory Murphey
In my Differentiation Class, Jamie explained the hardships you are dealing with currently, and my heart goes out to you and your students.
"Teaching is fundamentally about building lives. Differentiating instruction focuses on the uniqueness of each child's life as well as its commonalities with all other lives. To build lives in a differentiated classroom means building them both collectively and individually (pg24). In my class we learn about 5 key teacher responses to students needs and they are: Invitation, Opportunity, Investment, Persistence and Reflection. I am going to break them down....
Invitation The teacher's words, demeanor and actions meed to communicate the following:
1- I respect who you are as well as who you can become.
2-I want to know you.
3- You are unique and valuable.
4- I believe in you.
5-I have time for you.
6- I lean when I listen to you.
7- This place is yours too.
8- We need you here.
Opportunity The teacher's words, demeanor and actions meed to communicate the following:
1- I have important thing for you to do here today.
2-The things I ask you to do are worthy things.
3- The things I ask you to do are often daunting.
4- The things I ask you to do open new possibilities for you.
5-The things I give you to do here help you become all you can be.
6- You have specific roles here that make us all more efficient and effective.
Investment The teacher who communicates investment to learners makes it clear:
1- I work hard to make this place work for you.
2-I work to make this place reflect you.
3- I enjoy thinking about what we do here.
4- I love to find new paths to success.
5- It is my job to help you succeed.
6- I am your partner in growth.
7- I will do what it takes to ensure your growth.
Persistence The teacher needs to help students understand that this is a place where persistence is a hallmark. To do that, the teacher must communicate the following:
1- You're growing, but you're not finishing growing.
2- When one route doesn't work, there are others we can find.
3- Let's figure out what works best.
4- There are no excuses here, but there is support.
5- there is no finish line in learning.
Reflection Not only do teachers benefit from reflective practice, but students derive important messages from reflective teachers as well. To the student, a reflective teacher communicates the following:
1- I watch you and listen to you carefully and systematically.
2- I make sure to use what I learn to help you learn better.
3- I try to see things through your eyes.
4- I continually ask, "How is this partnership working?"
5- I continually ask, "How can I make this better?"
Jaremy I hope my thoughts help you in this time of need. I know you are going to make a great teacher, because you are making time to see the invisible. These students need you Jaremy! Don't be the one who gives up on them. Be the one who makes the difference. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sincerly,
Mallory Murphey
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
