JCHS Instructional News
News & Celebrations- James Clemens High School Faculty
Issue 17 / March 16, 2014
Only one week until Spring Break! WE can do this!
Directions Here --->
We look forward to seeing you in Flight School on Wednesday. We will begin to explore data literacy by exploring our collective beliefs about the best uses for data at JC. Mrs. Buchanan will share some important JC & MCS data with everyone that will come in handy as your team plans for current and future students!
Have a GREAT week!
Alyson :)
AROUND JC THIS WEEK....
Spanish Convention CONGRATS-- 7 Awards go to JC Students! Magnifico!
Brain Health Expo-- HUGE Success!
The excitement of the kids (ES & HS Alike) was contagious. I saw so many natural teachers and leaders among our students. I look at the kids we are so fortunate to learn with each day-- and I am hopeful for the future! To quote our friend and IP from LMS, the future looks BRIGHT for the JETS!
Great Flight, JETS! Keep Flying High.
Brain Expo Sneak Peeks!
Brain Expo Sneak Peeks!
Brain Expo Sneak Peeks!
Strategy Spotlight: Student Engagement
What does student engagement look like?
How do the experts define "Engagement":
Marzano and Pickering define student engagement as a combination of both short-term attention and longer-term engagement. They explain that engagement results when students answer in the affirmative to the questions below:
- “How do I feel?”
- “Am I interested?”
- “Is this important?”
- “Can I do this?”
Marzano adds that student engagement happens as a result of the careful planning and execution of research based strategies in the classroom. It just so happens that we have a treasure trove of resources in that area for Content Literacy / Strategic Teaching.
More from Marzano HERE.
Strategic Teaching
Before, During, and After learning strategies can keep student engagement high during all phases of a lesson. Holding the attention of students is much easier when we keep THEM working! That lesson from Harry Wong proves true time and again-- the KIDS should leave tired from the work and brainpower utilized during the day. The teachers should be skipping out the door because their hard work was complete once the lesson was planned! Facilitation becomes the easy part!
Mrs. Buchanan has TONS of ideas available to you here to help in planning. Check them out here: Mrs. B's Livebinder
Random Response / Cold Calls
An easy way to keep engagement levels high in your class is through use of the "Cold Call" strategy which also helps with formative assessment / checks for understanding. This strategy is often called the "Equity Pot" because it creates equal opportunities for all students to answer. It requires all student to be ready to participate. implementation is as simple as pulling popsicle sticks with student names from a cup (See photo below & SEE ME to get a cup with sticks for your class!)
And guess what? THERE'S also AN APP For That! There are actually a few apps available for this purpose! Two that I have tried are iLeap Pick-A-Student and Pick Me. They are both user friendly and FREE! The Pick Me app even lets you keep up with the number of times you call on students and rate their understanding by ranking their response within the app.
Questioning, Talking Structures, White Boards for Answers, Teaching Others, etc...
Having structures planned for students during lessons keeps them actively involved in the lesson...ENGAGED.
Examples might include:
- Use of Wait Time w/ Questioning
- Turn & Talk
- Show What you Know (mini-whiteboards)
- Teach your Neighbor (mini-whiteboards)
- Entry / Exit Activities
- Fist-to-5 Class Check-Ins
These are a few ideas. I see so many different ideas around JC. What strategies are working best in your class? Please share with us!
Equity Sticks
Pick Me! App
Anyone tried this one??
MIni Whiteboards
(Mrs. Wade uses this strategy! Our science teachers also use GIANT ones for students teaching students. Anyone else?)
What Educators are TWEETING about around James Clemens, Madison City, and Alabama
In-Flight Movie
This Week's Theme: Engagement (The Anti-Boredom Campaign)
This video should provide a bit of comic relief as we head into Spring Break.
The level of engagement from the young male driver might not be up to par (at least as far as his attention to the road ahead), but the lady here is "living in the moment"--- fully engaged in the task at hand! lol
Enjoy a laugh~
Alyson :)
Want to use video clips as Thinking Prompts with your lessons?
This resource from Dr. Jim Knight may be helpful: http://www.corwin.com/highimpactinstruction/chapters/Attributes_of_Effective_Thinking.pdf If you're interested in viewing more examples, visit this Pinterest board: http://www.pinterest.com/alysoncarpenter/videos-thinking-prompts/
Disclaimer: Pinned videos don't always signify endorsements. We often pin first and view later!
HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK, JETS!
Alyson Carpenter, Instructional Partner
Madison City Schools
Madison, AL
Go JETS! ✈️
Email: acarpenter@madisoncity.k12.al.us
Website: http://jchs.madisoncity.k12.al.us
Location: 11306 County Line Road, Madison, AL, United States
Phone: 256-216-5313
Twitter: @alysoncarp1