Learning Coach Corner
Volume I Issue 8
Great Things Happening in Our Classrooms at West Middle School!
Veterans Mr. Kish a career military veteran, and Mr. Baldwin, a Vietnam veteran, visited with 6th grade Social Studies classes on Veterans Day. Students listened intently as both shared their experiences throughout their military careers and what the best thing about our country is. Students asked many great questions! Guest speakers not only allow for students to make connections with what they learn in the classroom and the real world but we are also engaging our parents and community in students' learning.
Assessment and Learning: Look Back Strategy
This strategy helps students reflect on what and how they learned. It helps teachers learn what they can do to make students' learning more relevant and effective. Students recount specific examples of things they now know that they didn't know before, describe how they learned them and how this way of learning was effective for them. This strategy supports student reflection as students summarize their learning in two columns. See template here.
Strategies, Strategies, Strategies
Ms. Mile's students practice dialoguing using the Philosophical Chairs strategy. Some of the benefits of Philosophical Chairs are that students develop their listening skills, summarizing others' thoughts and thinking critically to engage in dialogue to gain more understanding of the the topic. Philosophical Chairs
Mindset
"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."
Winston Churchill
Tech Bytes!
Paige Buckingham shared two new resources available to all students and teachers. Co-Writer and Snap & Read are valuable resources. Check them out if you haven't already!