The Inquiry Teacher's Corner
September 25, 2023
Meet the MLT
I am Mrs. Reta (pronounced Rita) Berry. I have been an educator with CMSD for 28 years. I have been a member of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Academy Staff for 13 years. I am currently the Model Lead Teacher who is a coach to support teachers using research-based strategies in the classroom. I attended Baldwin-Wallace University in Berea, Ohio. I have a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master's Degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Cleveland State. I am licensed to teacher K-8 and 4-9 Math and Science.
My role as the Model Lead Teacher is to support educators and students with research-based instructional practices that align to our AAP. I also assist with professional development opportunities in the building. I am excited about the 2023-24 SY because I am currently taking a course on Staff Professional Development at Baldwin-Wallace University!
Weekly Model Focus
Questions & Wonderings
If you are looking for an engaging strategy to get your students excited about their learning, try using a thinking rountine like : I See, I Think, I Wonder; What do you notice? What do you wonder? Think-Write- Share. Then have students share with each other before sharing out to their classmates. Notices and wonders should be student generated, related to the standard, I can statement, or essential question. It can be your hook for a unit or the hook for your daily lesson. When students generate questions and wonders, they should not be post and ignored. It is important to address the students wonders through the lesson. If their wonderings are not related to the topic, I would suggest you create a "Parking Lot" where students can as any question.
Questions and wonderings is our first Core Committment related to Inquiry based learning and teaching. When you use the thinking routines you can also use accountable talk stems to encourage students to have positive dialogues arond the topic.
Resources
Professional Learning Resources
- All the Math EdTech News That’s Fit for Me to Read (if your math folks aren’t reading Dan Meyer - I would highly recommend passing his name/writing along to them) Several articles about generative AI, two math tasks, and a field trip to Mt. Everest that turns into a teacher's nightmare, though not for the reason you'd imagine.
- How A Welcoming Classroom Can Help Decrease Absenteeism
See Think Wonder
3 Ways to Make Thinking Visible - Padlet
After viewing this video, please share - What do you see? What do you think? What do you wonder?
https://padlet.com/retaberry1/3-activities-that-make-thinking-visual-uyhannuwuij5v4j8
Happening Around FDR Academy
Science Fair has begun!
Remember this is a schoolwide demonstration of learning.
The Tallest Tower
Mrs. Negron's 3rd graders working collaboratively to design the tallest tower using spaghetti pasta and marshmallows.