CPUMS
Week of April 10
Quotation: A good map is both a useful tool and a magic carpet to faraway places.
Learning Maps
"A learning map is a graphic organizer that highlights the knowledge, skills and big ideas that students should get from a lesson, unit, or course. The map depicts the most important information to be learned and how the different pieces of learning are connected. A learning map is a visual cue for the advance organizer (the introductions of learning at the start of a lesson) and post organizer (the summary discussion at the end of a lesson), and a living study guide that students and teachers complete after each new learning."
IMPORTANT UNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT MAPS
- Seeing supports learning.
- Maps show the big picture.
- They keep students and teachers on track.
- Maps can structure the beginning and ending of lessons.
- They serve as a mechanism for repeated review.
- Maps make connections explicit.
- They can help struggling note-takers.
- Maps serve as a living study guide
The IC's are going to complete a learning map of their journey of being an instructional coach. It is also a good tool to use at the beginning of a unit, for the teacher, to organize important concepts they would like the students to learn.If you would like help creating a learning map please let me know.
Ten Strategies for Creating a Classroom Culture of High Expectations-Strategy 3
The next few weeks I am going to share an article with you on creating a culture of learning. The article was written by Myra Cloer Reynolds of SREB.
"The physical appearance and strategic location of furnishings, materials, and equipment do make a difference in classroom management, student productivity, and teacher effectiveness. The worst arrangement is the traditional 'teacher desk up front facing rows of student desks' model. Unfortunately, most classrooms look like this. Motivation, wellness, and attitudes are favorably impacted by color, personalized space, and face-to-face engagement. Colorful classrooms with displays of good student work, some 'creature comforts' and age-appropriate displays encourage learning. Seating arrangements that enable occupants to see the faces of the people speaking are judged more pleasant by teachers and students. These factors do, in fact, create more productive environments. U-shaped configurations allow teachers to circulate into the space of learners — or distracters — with just a few steps and enable students to see each other and teachers better. Storing materials at pick-up points easily accessible to students cuts down on wasted time. Establishing a routine place to drop off homework and pick up graded papers or writing journals, having several trash cans in different corners of the room, and not having the teacher’s desk as a focal point of the room minimize distractions, motion, and clutter. Evaluating the classroom space in this way determines whether it is inviting or not. Is it colorful, soothing, neat and focused on inspiring quality student work? Does it diminish noise and confusion or the opportunity for students to hide and opt out of active engagement? When students are engaged in individual activities such as sponge activities, silent reading, tests and self-practice, the use of low-volume background music is comforting. An audio cue can establish a norm of focus and quiet, and is a good way to keep these activities within strict time limits, thus communicating high expectations for completing tasks in a timely manner. A possible three-minute activity could be a three-minute taped song; a 12-minute activity, a 12-minute taped reading."
Calendar
Monday 4/10 /17
- Covering classes for IC interviews
- Team task meetings
- Working with students and staff
Tuesday, 4/11/17
- Coaching pillars of Differentiated Accountability GWAEA-AM only
- Appointment PM
Wednesday, 4/12/17
- Faculty meeting
- Working with students and staff
- Team Learning Meetings
- Working with students and staff
Friday, 4/14/17
- No School
- If you would like to see my Google calendar search my name while in Google Calendar.