Lindsey's Coaching Corner
Keeping SMITH Teachers in the KNOW
Mini-Lesson Series
A Mini lesson: (noun)
Usually for a mini lesson children sit in the meeting area alongside a partner, clustered as close to you as possible. This is not usually a time for children to sit in a circle, because conversations among the whole class are minimal. This is time instead for you to teach as efficiently and explicitly as possible. Teachers often worry over the content of their minilessons, the truth is that if you are teaching and learning alongside a classroom full of kids who are engaged in their own writing and reading, you'll soon find that your mind will brim with ideas for minilessons.
-Lucy Calkins
Stay tuned for next weeks': The Architecture of Minilessons...
Day 4 of Grammar Talks in Huff's Class
Data Driven Discussions
Partner Reading in KInder
Math Curriculum Updates:
5th Grade:
- Upcoming Cluster 1 lessons on Patterns and Equations have been revised
- MSTAR update from TEA: due to the technical difficulties the ESTAR/MSTAR system will be temporarily unavailable but will return the week of 9/28/15. All data accrued for the 2015–2016 academic year will remain in the system. The administration window is extended to Oct. 16th for the Screener and Oct. 23rd for the Diagnostic Assessment. For additional information, contact mathtx@esc13.net. ESTAR/MSTAR professional developments are available at texasmathsupportcenter.org.
- Cluster 2 with overview video is all loaded.
4th Grade:
- Cluster 2 Planner, number talks, and instructional videos are loaded. Lessons will be coming next week. Cluster 2 instruction does not begin until November 2nd.
3rd Grade:
- The first week of Cluster 2 lessons are posted, and we will be completing the remaining lessons next week. The Cluster Planner, overview video and CBA are posted for BP4L.
- October 1: Job-embedded PD (one math teacher per campus to attend) 12:30-3:30 at CTE. We will be sending an email to the ICs that signed-up for this PD.
K-2:
- We will be working on curriculum for Cluster 2 next week.
Up the RIGOR
ELAR Curriculum Updates:
Cluster 3 for grades 3-5 is now loaded. Please take time to watch the video's of Cluster 3 for grades 3-5. Many new insights and learning has transpired during this time. You will notice that many of the resources needed for the cluster are attached to the cluster planner. The documents are now linked within Eduphoria through Google Docs. K-2 Cluster 3 will be loaded soon.
- Cluster 3 starts October 12th.
- This is a three week cluster.
- Here is a link to the video overview of Cluster 3: Visualize to Experience
- Please pay close attention to the process clarity, suggested student assessments, and suggested response.
- Please notice the process coding strategies trickled throughout the cluster planner and mentor lessons. Explicit examples have been demonstrated throughout.
- There are 3 new mentor lessons.
4th Grade
- Cluster 3 starts October 19th.
- This is a three week cluster.
- Here is a link to the video overview of Cluster 3: Visualize to Experience
- Please pay close attention to the process clarity, suggested student assessments, and suggested response.
- Please notice the process coding strategies trickled throughout the cluster planner and mentor lessons
- There are 2 new mentor lessons.
5th Grade
- Cluster 3 starts October 12th.
- This is a three week cluster.
- Here is a link to the video overview of Cluster 3: Visualize to Experience
- Please pay close attention to the process clarity, suggested student assessments, and suggested response.
- Please notice the process coding strategies trickled throughout the cluster planner and mentor lessons. Explicit examples have been demonstrated throughout.
- There are five new mentor lessons.
Science Updates:
When teachers assign students their codes to get into STEMscopes at home, the STEMscopedia is already uploaded for parents to see and use with their children.
What I am Studying...
Lindsey Corder
Email: corderl@friscoisd.org
Location: Noel A Smith Elementary School, Frisco, TX, United States
Phone: 4696332217
Twitter: @lindseycorder1