Perkins' Pieces #3
Open doors to more than a diploma: Read, Write & Inquire
We have so many pieces to celebrate!
Thank you all for your hard work with our students! In this edition of Pieces, I want to take a moment to share some tips and shout outs from our secondary schools in LCS. I could send an entire newsletter entirely devoted to the thoughtful work you are doing with kids. These are just a few models of deep inquiry.
BSA - Way to go, James Beasley-Mungin aka Mr. B at Bragg Street for tackling some great social-emotional learning tactics coupled with writing exercises in his middle school classroom.
LCHS - Shout out to Wendy Bryan for her dedication to quality curriculum! She is integrating UbD transfer in IB, traditional English, and Journalism. Many thanks to her for sharing this "tips of the week" idea from Jostens with me as well!
LEC - Kudos to Denise Sawyer for great pacing in her classroom. She takes time between varied activities to let students collaborate and is sure to always drive home the need for them to write about their readings. There is no time to waste in Ms. Sawyer's room.
SLHS - Well done, Lynn Gelling! She has students producing quality group work and presentations. She used Reciprocal Teaching methods to review narrative elements and build relationships in the first month of school. Next up? Lynn is pairing Julius Ceasar with Oedipus the King to teach the big idea of Power.
ELMS - Yvette Batten is on a roll with her 6th grade partner Amy Morrison! They are using a paragraph of the week writing protocol, have made Plot Pizzas, and are integrating guided Cornell Notes to study for tests on their readings and terms. These are just a few pieces they have already done this year.
SLMS - Josh Schneider, in tandem with the entire seventh grade team, has been rocking out DESSA vocab, Clipboard Reading, as well as shared reading of Kipling followed up with a RAFT and One-Pager writing exercise, and I could go on, but I digress.
WLMS - Cathy Oldham has her eighth graders on the edge of their seats. They hang on her every word as they read several selections that connect thematically, such as Saki's short stories. She models high expectations with high interest texts that are complex.
GREAT JOB, EVERYONE!
To see more pictures of our happy classrooms, check out LCSPROFLEARN on Instagram.
"And always, there was the magic of learning things." - Francie Nolan
LCSPROFLEARN: A piece on Dept. of C & I
Curriculum Resources page on the LCS Site
Subscribe to the Remind group for #lcsproflearn by texting @lcspl to this number: 81010 or emailing a blank message to lcspl@mail.remind.com.
We are working on getting resources for everyone. Thanks for filling out the survey I sent! If you have not had a chance to do so, here is the link: http://goo.gl/forms/UCbVluPa57
Pieces on Reading & Writing:
One major tool a good writer uses is to read a LOT! The term "a lot" can be nefarious. Reading a lot should always mean reading deeply, closely, and gleaning as much as we can from the text. Quality trumps quantity.
(Informative for a K-12 perspective--my favorite piece is Figure 1 and the questions for students.)
A piece on our favorite part about teaching Writing:
A piece on Inquiry:
How to Design a Classroom Based on Inquiry, Openness, and Trust
Learning is a work of the head and the heart.
Planning Pieces
Literacy Instruction for Future Readiness
Research base on the call for Text Complexity: http://www.corestandards.org/assets/Appendix_A.pdf
Unit Planning Frame and Daily Lesson Plan Template
Standards/ELA Curriculum by grade level can be found here: www.lcsproflearn.weebly.com/literacy
Looking for an online lesson planning platform? www.commoncurriculum.com
Folder of Resources with Calendars and Basics for Planning
Not so Itty Bitty Book of Common Instructional Framework from NCNS (aka goldmine of protocols for engaging students - WICOR, just a horse of a different color):
https://drive.google.com/a/lee.k12.nc.us/file/d/0B2_qBotSDp5uUTBMalh1ZGgxWG8/view?usp=sharing
Free SAT and ACT online prep for grammar, writing, reading, etc:
OPENING DOORS TO MORE THAN A DIPLOMA
More than a Diploma Infographic
Our District Transfer Goals (Top Five Skills for 21st Century Grads):
1. Can demonstrate effective and creative written and oral communication in various formats appropriate for purpose and audience.
2. Can, without significant scaffolding, comprehend and evaluate complex texts across a range of types and disciplines, and then construct arguments and convey intricate or multifaceted information. Likewise, students are able independently to discern a speaker’s key points, request clarification, and ask relevant questions.
3. Can solve real-world problems by applying various strategies.
4. Are self-directed learners who can self-evaluate using different perspectives.
5. Are responsible/respectful leaders/citizens who can empathize in various situations.
Joanna's Piece
Email: jperkins.sl@lee.k12.nc.us
Website: www.lcsproflearn.weebly.com
Location: Sanlee Middle School, Tramway Road, Sanford, NC, United States
Phone: 919.708.7227
Twitter: @jc_perk