Literacy Lowdown
Maureen Hayes, PreK-6 Humanities Supervisor
June 2018
This month's focus: Small Shifts in Goal Setting
What will you shift for next year to move you and your students forward?
Summer is the time to flex your EDU muscles (@SteinbrinkLaura).
I challenge you to pick one of the six shifts explained below and go for it! Remember to share with me and let me know how I can support you in your shifts.
#1-Shift Your Classroom Environment
Shift Your Walls
Of course you are going to put your own touch and style into the classroom, but consider trying some of the following:
- Start your year with blank walls and let your students do the decorating with their work, creations, book recommendations, wonder walls, and even some personal items from each students' home (pictures or artifacts). Let the students know this is their room to decorate.
- Don't forget to have white space for students to rest their eyes. A classroom full of too many decorations and wall hangings may be distracting or even overwhelming for students.
Shift Your Furniture
Who determines the arrangement of desks/tables and other furniture, along with centers and stations in your classroom? When students take ownership over their classroom arrangement and configuration, they become more invested in their learning.
Ideas for shifting your furniture:
- Students arrange desks/tables and decide where they will sit
- Students decide on placement & arrangement of classroom library
- Add some different types of furniture & allow students to determine how they are going to work best.
- Change the height of your tables to reflect different opportunities for student work spaces.
*It does take time & money, so start with the furniture you have and add a few things each year. The classrooms below took time to look this way.
#2-Shift Your Homework
What is your "WHY" for assigning homework? Make sure you know the answer.
Ask yourself the following:
2. Is the homework meaningful?
3. Do you grade homework? If so, why?
Things to try that give students choice in their homework and make it more meaningful...choice boards, flipped homework, challenges and reflection as homework assignments.
#3-Shift Towards Student-Directed Learning
"It's not about the grade. It's about the learning." Joy Kirr
Whether it's through passion projects or genius hour, let students guide their learning. Put aside part of your day or week to let students explore their passions and interests. Students often learn more and are more invested in their learning when they have the power to guide their process.
Give students voice & choice in the learning:1. Choice of topic or focus of research or project
2. Choice of presentation of final product (video, paper, Google Slides, poster, art, presentation, etc.).
Anything you want to know to guide your implementation of genius hour can be found on Joy Kirr's site:
#4- Shift Your Grading
When it comes to grading your students' assignments, have you considered the following:
Example: Choose 3 of your math problems that you'd like me to grade. Select one part of your report that you'd like me to grade.
This allows students to reflect on their learning and where they would like a grade/feedback.
2. When students see a grade on a paper, they are less likely to look beyond it at the real feedback, which is teacher comment. Shift your focus from a grade to more meaningful feedback for students.
#5-Shift Your Classroom Management #DitchTheClips
Make a shift to ditch your behavior charts.
Below is an article and videos that explain why classroom charts are not appropriate and also gives suggestions for other options. Refer back to you Responsive Classroom training and resources to support you as well.
This video series explains the "why" behind ditching the charts and offers great suggestions:
#6- Shift Your Use of Technology
DIVE information & registration: https://goo.gl/forms/RUvVMme37KDHhZqx1
Flex Your EduMuscles- Good blog for Reflection
As you head off to summer break, don't forget...
Past Literacy Lowdowns Can Be Found Here:
#ONEWORD2018: INTENTIONAL
Maureen Hayes
Email: mhayes@ltps.org
Website: http://www.pearltrees.com/maureenhayes
Location: Lawrence Township, NJ, USA
Phone: 609-671-5455
Twitter: @mhayes611