Week of 11/14; “Final Thoughts” (pages 97-106)
Choose one of the strategies from the Appendix to implement. What are some of the techniques you learned in this book that you could use in conjunction with the strategy? What would it look like in your classroom? How would you measure student success?
The strategy I am picking is learning centers, specifically in reading. I want my students to become more independent learners and thinkers. I will start small, but I will have a seat work station, a writing station with different prompts, a game station related to a skill and an informational text station. I am thinking ahead to a story called Adelina's Whales. I will use the leveled text on whales, the main skill for the game, and 2-3 choices for a reading response prompt. I will assess the reading response with a 4 point rubric. I will have students fill out a graphic organizer on the book they will read. The skill will be reviewed then in assessed in a paper/pencil activity. This time I think I will group by ability, so I can differentiate the activities easier.
ReplyDeleteI think that I would like to work on independent projects. I have a small group of students who are always finished (neatly and correctly), who are able to work independently, and who are bored with the books on my shelf. So independent studies could be organized to give them that little push. AND if they get to use the computer as part of their independent study, as can use that as a carrot for those who are less willing to work!
ReplyDeleteMichelle - I like the idea of having related nonfiction books in a center. The kids actually seem to prefer non-fiction, and they'll have lots of their own ideas for sharing the information! If the bookmobile delivers the books you can get a variety of reading levels without any baby book stigma attached.
ReplyDeleteNot to copy, but I will have to go with learning centers too. I think these will be critical as I set up something to help students work on the skills that they are not getting in class. I have done this in third grade before but it is quite challenging. I think I will have a teacher center, skill center, and an individual center where students will work on independent reading and projects. This sounds ideal but I know that to implement it will take time on my part to get everything rolling. I would love the opportunity to see an older 5/6 classroom that incorporates reading centers. If anyone knows of anyone, I would sure like to know. Thanks! Dennine
ReplyDeleteSarah, your ideas about computer use and high interest is great. The only problem is the lack of computers that we have at our disposal. One computer cart with 8 for the whole building doesn't cut it. It would be nice to be able to have more than just the two in our room, considering that other buildings have a computer room! Good luck! Dennine
ReplyDeleteChoose one of the strategies from the Appendix to implement. What are some of the techniques you learned in this book that you could use in conjunction with the strategy? What would it look like in your classroom? How would you measure student success?
ReplyDeleteThe strategy I plan on implementing more frequently is the tiered assignment strategy. I am the intervention specialist, which means I should be doing this already, which I am, but I can improve this strategy in a variety of ways. First, I can receive my students graded assignments from their teachers during collaboration in the areas I provide service in advance in order to make the adjustments. Usually, I get the work when I pick up the students. For the most part, the assignments are simple enough that I can adjust immediately, but there are times when my students are given pages of work to complete, generally in math from one teacher. No teacher rushes me to get the assignments back, but it is overwhelming for me, imagine being the student. I pace through the assignments, but now, I will only have my students complete one segment to show they understand the skill. Second, I can alter my students written response questions. Instead of having my students complete all points of the response, I can have the student complete one point and master the way in which they answer that question then move onto the next point and combine the two. I was thinking about using this strategy in spelling. For my struggling students who know the letters, but unfamiliar with the order, I can provide two out of six letters for them. I plan on doing all this in centers, but I do not have the capacity in my room to do this with the 3rd graders, but regarding the 4th graders, I can definitely implement these strategies. I would then measure my student’s success through rubrics, feedback and modeling as well as through the grade they receive from their classroom teacher on the task.
Regarding the computers, I think the use of learning teams and learning centers will create ways in which students can rotate to use the computer. A learning team may be given an assignment with particular jobs. One of the jobs can be research or another option could be to have the group work on one computer to do their research collectively. I think Mrs. O'Donnell and Mrs. Milano's class is the biggest in the school and they would have to have larger learning groups in order to make this possible. What I have been doing in my class is allowing students to use my laptop if they have successfully completed everything. Some of the students get upset, but they also know that their work must be acceptable and they too can get the same opportunity. Dennine, you are right in stating we need more computers. We have 100 more students than last year with no more technology than was in place last year. Karen and I asked Alice in Special Education about how we can get more computers at our site.
ReplyDeleteLearning centers are great for students. I know they have not been typically used for older grades, but when you think about it, they really do mimic a work place atmosphere. I had the pleasure of observing Kara's learning centers last week. They were impressive, and truly differentiated, with tiered assignments for her heterogeneous groups. It is also motivating for students to work independently on the computer. I've really enjoyed hearing everyone's ideas. If there is any assistance or input you ever need from me, please don't hesitate to ask! Lee Ann
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