Thank you to everyone for attending the STEM and Reading PDs last week! Below you will find some additional resources and videos to assist you in implementing the strategies in your classroom.
As you are working towards increasing or finding the time to fit independent reading into your blocks, check out some of the anchor charts, conferring documents, and videos below to assist you!
Shout out to everyone for being fully engaged in November's Increasing Student Engagement PD!
I loved watching you develop your critical eye and using a rubric to peek into a first grade math lesson, hearing reflection on your practice taking place, and seeing all of your enthusiastically share your thoughts on the article "The Icing or the Cake?" in our Jigsaw activity.
Is engagement the icing or the cake?
According to ISNP teachers...
"Student engagement is both. The students must know the purpose (cake) foundation of activity -- why we are doing this -- and when this happens, they perform authentically (icing)!"
"Yes, it (the icing) is the only reason to eat the cake!"
"Student engagement is the icing. The very best feeling is when you can see the students engaged in the lessons."
"Cake! Without engagement, there is no learning."
"I think it's the cake - or at least one of its ingredients...Students can't learn if they're not engaged."
"Cake! If students aren't engaged, you aren't reaching them."
Based on the Google Forms Exit Ticket, I will be scheduling times to plan and model engagement strategies...for now, take a look at some of the videos and resources below!
2. Avoid excessive use of worksheets, and offer CHOICE:
Tired of making copies? Do students rush through their worksheet? Use a learning menu instead! Menus allow for students to have choice in how they present their learning. By allowing students to choose the type of product, they are then more engaged and take ownership of their learning (providing artifacts of their learning process). Sample menu packets are in your mailboxes. See below for other options.
Remember, even the highly engaged classroom will have multiple levels of engagement. The goal is to get a majority of students to be actively engaged. Please reach out to me if you need any ideas, etc. I will be observing during the month of December using the pink Engagement Rubric you received at the PD, and I will provide you with specific feedback once I've popped into your classroom.
Thank you all for being willing to navigate through the growing
pains of the new common planning model with me. I am here to partner with each
of you and to see that you all “WIN”. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with
questions, concerns, or even to invite me into your room to participate,
co-teach, or observe. I love being in classrooms with you and the students!!
Currently, my focus is on instructional planning and devising an intervention
plan as I seek advice from all of you. I am so grateful that you all allow me
to be a part of your teams…
Next week, I will be off campus at a Coach meeting
on Monday, but then I will be common planning with all primary teams, and
intermediate teams we will be creating our first USA Test Prep benchmark
together.
Below is a link to the article that we discussed this Wednesday on classroom management techniques. If you scroll through the article, you can watch the videos that go with each section on the topics that we discussed. Thank you for your reflection and suggestions!!
Today in Mrs. Jones' class, students built catapults using spoons, tongue depressors, and rubber bands! They were investigating how the placement of the fulcrum effects distance. All students were so engaged and had to draw a diagram of their catapult and give an explanation of this investigation! Love seeing STEM lessons in action -- check with Mrs. Jones and she might be able to give you a date so that you could stop by to check out some STEM lessons too!
Don't let this happen to your students -- check out the tips below!
PBL is a wonderful way to increase student curiosity and creativity! During the months of April and May, it's also a nice way to keep students engaged and reinforce the skills/standards they've learned all year! According to the NEA (National Education Association),
"This model helps make learning relevant to students by establishing connections to life outside the classroom and by addressing real world issues. In the classroom, PBL gives teachers an opportunity to build relationships with students by acting as their coach, facilitator, and co-learner. In the school and beyond, the model further allows teachers opportunities to build relationships among colleagues and with those in the larger community. Student projects can be shared with other teachers, parents, and others who have a vested interest in the students' education."http://www.nea.org/tools/16963.htm
Below are some links to resources that can help you plan and implement PBL in your classroom.
Please reach out to me if you need any help in the planning or facilitating of classroom projects -- I always love visiting when you have display days, too!!
Below, one of Mrs. Swales' Kindergarten students got up from his seat and went to use the Word Wall to help him during writing! It was obvious that Mrs. Swales taught this strategy to her students -- what a wonderful way to make her Word Wall interactive and useful!
In Ms. Komisak's 5th grade classroom, the students have a Connections Wall, where they stick Stop and Jot notes with connections they have made while reading with the class, or during Independent Daily Reading. They write the connection and a small explanation! Such a cool way to build classroom culture while displaying reading comprehension through student work!
