Update From THIS I.F.
Happy October!
How are we using our 1080 instructional days?
Food For Thought
I know that Daily 5 or Daily 3 is the schedule of choice but with our new standards the rigor has been increased. We must ensure that every moment of our 1080 reading blocks is used effectively. It is a great way to organize but I want you to think on this...
If a task can be completed without any challenge--should this be an activity for our reading block? For example, practicing spelling words and writing them in a rainbow pattern for a 20 minute rotation. 20 minutes a day times 4 days equals 80 minutes a week. Multiply 80 minutes times 4 weeks and you get 320 minutes which is over 5 hours.
Oh My! Can an activity like spelling be combined with another center activity so they do that in their "fill time?" For example, Read a book with a partner and question each other after each page. When you are finished work on spelling.
Our time is precious--activities that make students think, collaborate and apply learning will move them to the next level. Practice is great--but maybe at a minimal level. Think about our center task and make sure we are pushing them as much as possible.
Dates to Know
PLC Time will be used to complete all Tier 2 paperwork for conferences. I will be available if you would like to work in the literacy room with me and I can help you. Kindergarten you will need to plan your next KEA data collection on this day.
We will have Benchmarks on the week of the 23rd. Please see schedule draft for this.
Schedule Draft
October 16th Mclass Training for new teachers for all new K-3 staff.
There will be an early release on the 27th.
October 30th there will be a district wide PD Day at TES. We will have an all day session on Digital Competencies.
Title I money has not been released so I will let you know about planning days as soon as we have access.
CFA
Curriculum WoWs in the Building!
- Shout out to Anna for thoughtful and meaningful tasks during independent reading centers. She had students reading independently to complete graphic organizers, writing task or questions which allowed them time to apply the strategies she has been teaching, If we do not allow students to independently apply and see what mistakes they make--we can't know what they really know AND can't help them continue to achieve. Great Job Anna!
- Spiraling skill instruction and continuing to make it more difficult each time you discuss the topic. 4th grade you are doing great with this! For example, first time you teach figurative language it is on identification, the next time understanding meaning at sentence level with context clues, the next time understanding phrases within a passage. Great way to continue to deepen rigor for students,
- Poetry: 5th grade love that you have started this early! If you want to increase rigor and complexity of text--use a poem. The structure of the lines and syntax makes the reading of poetry unpredictable and therefore challenges readers to think to read fluently as well as comprehend. Keep them digging 5th grade! Keep taking away their scaffolding!
- 1st grade thanks for continuing to try new things to engage students and provide what they need. Team Teaching and groupings across classes. Great collaboration!
- Thanks to 2nd grade for digging in and providing needed structures and routines to build confidence in students. When they believe--they can do. Keep raising expectations and supporting as you go! Thanks Ladies!
Look at Walkthrough Data
What are your thoughts?
Weekly Blog
Tasks and a look at Rigor! Please read--this will be a discussion in PLCs after Benchmark Testing!
K, 2 and 3 Please Do This!
K, 2 and 3rd grades please get this completed.
5th grade please make sure you add math words.
Learning Should be Messy--Confusion and Mistakes Equal Dendrites
Resources From OLD UPDATES
Summarize to Increase Engagement
We all know that Engage NY is tough because it is requiring students to sit for a long period with information that is VERY RIGOROUS. To combat this--have students constantly summarizing, talking to a partner, sharing learning, explaining problems, defending ideas, etc.
We have some teachers who have been teaching Engage for three years and have learned how to break up the monotony with these strategies--If you want to visit one of them to see how they do this...please let me or Mrs. Lingle know and we will help make that happen.
Good example in an older class--skip to about 1 minute to start.
Rug Partners--this could be done at their desks if you have pre-designated partners.
I am very proud of the thinking students are doing! Please do not break up the rigor because it is hard--scaffold learning with partner discussions, think pair share, turn and talk, etc. These techniques will help extend learning for some and support others while still exposing them to the rigor.
Resources to Follow Up MTSS Training
TES Goals--Plan with these in mind!
- Increase student to student interaction in conversation, summarizing, and discussion of content
- Vocabulary through student talk and rigor of text
- Complexity of Text
- Increase questioning of deep comprehension with all reading groups at each level. Do not wait for a student to be reading on a level for them to answer questions on that level orally.
- Application of phonics to multi-syllabic words in 2-5 and strong emphasis and mastery in K-1
- Growth Mindset and STAMINA
Growth Mindset Resources
Think on this information:
- Family income is a strong predictor of achievement.
- Growth Mindset exhibits a strong relationship with achievement across all socioeconomic levels.
- Lower socioeconomic students are less likely to hold growth mindset than wealthier peers.
Growth Mindset CAN buffer negative effects of poverty on achievement.
Google Drive to Materials (Add to this if you have any good resources)
Kelly This
Email: kthis@alexander.k12.nc.us
Location: Taylorsville, NC, United States
Phone: 8282922293
Twitter: @This1This