Teaching and Learning
Week of September 26-30, 2016
Thinking Maps--Not Just Another Program!
Recently, I have seen many Thinking Maps in hallways and in classrooms, and because of the fact that I have the privilege to see classrooms from prekindergarten through grade 12, I have been contemplating the true power of the maps. In Student Successes with Thinking Maps edited by David Hyerle, it states, "Because Thinking Maps are a common visual language used by all teachers across grade levels, they become a familiar set of tools that make the learning process and patterns of information explicit and accessible to students."
Maps are great tools that represent all of the different types of thinking, but so do other graphic organizers, if that is all they are to us. However, they become dynamic when a frame of reference is added and students must discuss or write the source, the point of view, and most importantly, so what and so why. Then, and only then, do they become an apparatus for deep learning. Furthermore, "Students who work with Thinking Maps feel safe when faced with challenging work because they have a set of tools for thinking that provide them with a structured framework within which to be creative." I also think about the fact that when we teach students to organize their thinking in a different way at every grade level or in every classroom, that we often create apathy within our students. They need consistent structures that span all learning levels. It shifts the learning from an "obligation to know" to "an invitation to learn" thus allowing students to think in novel ways. Which shifts the process from not knowing to "not knowing yet" (p. 26)
Things to Come:
September 28—Guided Reading Walks K-2 with Debbie J at all 3 elementary campuses
September 29—Advanced Academics LWHS Library @ 4
October 3—Instructional Rounds @ 9 am—Howry
October 3—Tech Meeting @ 4:00 at admin
October 4—Navigators @ ADMIN
October 5—Elementary Literacy Leadership Team @ 3:45 pm @ admin
October 10—1/2 professional development/1/2 workday
October 11—“What’s My Place/What’s My Value” classroom modeling in 3rd and 4th and K-2 pilots; Leslie Texas in classroom support in math 5-12.
October 20—Instructional Rounds @ 9 am –Collins
Think Through Math; Istation; Compass; Apex
We have programs through the Texas Success:
Istation (for PK-5th grade and 6th coming soon)
We know that a tier 1 student should complete 30 minutes per week; tier 2-60 per week and tier 3-90 per week. We also know that Istation can predict STAAR success as well as help all students show growth.
Think Through Math (for grades 3-Algebra 1)
We know that students need to complete 30 GRADE-LEVEL lessons prior to STAAR in order to be successful. We also know that we can get the growth we need from all students by using a blended approach. Through such, we can pinpoint exact student needs TTM is designed to fill holes in student understanding as well as holes that may have developed due to adoption of the new TEKS.
Compass (for grades 6-8)
Compass is similar. All students need the equivalent to 30 minutes per day.
Apex (for English 1 and English 2)