Curriculum Contemplations
One-Stop Shop for Content & Pedagogical Information - May
Student Engagement: Is It Authentic or Compliant?
Dewitt, P. (April 12, 2016). Education Week
Sometimes a quiet class where students are listening and the teacher is doing the talking is seen as an engaged class. After all, none of the students are acting out, and they are all looking at the teacher. Many of us have been known to say, "1,2,3...eyes on me."
But...is this class authentically engaged or compliantly engaged?
MATHEMATICAL MUSINGS
Screencasting To Support Effective Teaching Practices
Vignettes from three classrooms—with access ranging from a single teacher tablet to one-for-one student devices—show how technology can aid learning.
Increasing availability of digital devices in school classrooms presents exciting new opportunities for teachers to support the teaching and learning of mathematics. Although many of the math applications available for these devices focus on drill and practice of mathematical procedures, screencasting apps can help support effective teaching practices that promote problem solving and deeper learning of mathematics.
The resulting video has the potential to document the process of what students write and say as they engage in mathematical problem solving. Screencasting tools present an opportunity to leverage technology for communicating mathematics and capturing students’ mathematical process rather than just their written product—capabilities that open up a variety of opportunities. This article highlights how screencasting might be leveraged for teaching and learning mathematics in classrooms.
*Note: While the article highlights use in elementary classrooms, the concept of screencasting can be applied K-12, across mathematical concepts.
Beliefs and Instructional Strategies
According to an article by Jo Boaler titled When you believe in your students, they do better posted on the youcubed.org website, the messages teachers send to their students can be a powerful influence in their mathematics achievement. The power of teachers’ words and the beliefs teachers hold about students are significant in empowering them to envision, and believe in, their own success. Knowing this encourages us to continue instilling positive belief messages in our classrooms all year.
However, belief in students alone is not enough to take students to their maximum potential....click to read moreSCIENTIFIC SOLILOQUIES
Beau Lotto + Amy O'Toole: Science is for everyone, kids included
*While the age level highlighted in the video may not be your target audience, it's still very cool to think about applications grades K - 12
COMMUNAL CONVERSATIONS
ELL ESSENTIALS
We identify our English Language Learners in PowerSchool with a globe icon on the top of the page. But if a student doesn’t have a globe, it doesn’t mean they don’t speak another language or still need to work on acquiring English...click to read more.
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT: Mrs. Theresa Gonsalves
For almost 13 years, Theresa Gonsalves has been teaching teenagers. She’s always taught at the middle school level (except for one year in high school) and after a few years teaching ELA and reading, she returned to her true calling, which is English language learning. Click to read more about Mrs. Gonsalves
TEACHING & LEARNING DEPARTMENT
Tammi Baushka - Literacy Program Specialist
Rebecca Ridge - Literacy Program Specialist
Julia Lindberg - LAD Program Specialist
Kristel Foster - LAD Program Specialist
Maggie Hackett - Math & Science Coordinator
Donna Rishor - Math Program Specialist
Frank McCormick - Instructional Technology Coordinator
Email: maggieh@susd12.org
Website: susd12.org
Location: 2238 E Ginter Rd, Tucson, AZ, United States
Phone: (520) 545-2000