Aim Higher Flyer
A MONTHLY LOOK INTO ECHS INSTRUCTION
MOTIVATION STATION
ENGAGING RELUCTANT STUDENTS: THE WINGMAN STRATEGY
Do you have "invisible" students in your class? Those you don't hear from or those students who can't or won't participate? No matter how purposeful our grouping, during collaborative assignments it can be common for students to assume this "invisible" role.
Check out the video below for a strategy known as "The Wingman". The job of this individual is to observe other group members and keep track of information such as:
- Number of citations
- Number of times the group goes off topic
- Examples of the types of facts found by group members
- Summarizing the group's findings
Check out the video here!
There's even a PDF observation form for your Wingman to use!
Check out the video below for a strategy known as "The Wingman". The job of this individual is to observe other group members and keep track of information such as:
- Number of citations
- Number of times the group goes off topic
- Examples of the types of facts found by group members
- Summarizing the group's findings
Check out the video here!
There's even a PDF observation form for your Wingman to use!
The Power of Zero
" Many of [us] want to give the miscreants who failed to complete our assignments the punishment that they so richly deserve. No work, no credit - end of story."
Administering such a consequence may be fitting of a 4-point grade scale where A is 4, B is 3 , C is 2, D is 1, and an F is 0. Each grade is proportional to the next. But let's examine the 0 on the 100 point grading system. On this system, the increment between each grade is 10 points, 90-100 = A, 80-90 =B, 70-80 = C and 60-70=D. However, the increment between D and F is not 10 points but 60. On a 4 point scale this is akin to an F as a -6, a disproportionate punishment.
In the article , The Case Against Zero, Douglas Reeves discusses the power of zero on a student's average. He argues that the most appropriate consequence for failing to complete an assignment is to require the student to complete the assignment. If that assignment remains incomplete, a grade of 50 should be administered, a 10 point interval below a D. This grade is still failing but is a manageable starting point for students to recover: "The students failed to turn in an assignment, so they receive a failing grade. They are not sent to a Siberian labor camp."
In a related video, Rick Wormelli discusses whether we need "different degrees of F'titude" be it a moral or immmoral, good or bad, reason the student received the F. Aside from teaching responsibility for turning in assignments, he claims he also has a responsibility to "teach and engender in such a way that inspires hope".
What are your thoughts on the power of zero?
Administering such a consequence may be fitting of a 4-point grade scale where A is 4, B is 3 , C is 2, D is 1, and an F is 0. Each grade is proportional to the next. But let's examine the 0 on the 100 point grading system. On this system, the increment between each grade is 10 points, 90-100 = A, 80-90 =B, 70-80 = C and 60-70=D. However, the increment between D and F is not 10 points but 60. On a 4 point scale this is akin to an F as a -6, a disproportionate punishment.
In the article , The Case Against Zero, Douglas Reeves discusses the power of zero on a student's average. He argues that the most appropriate consequence for failing to complete an assignment is to require the student to complete the assignment. If that assignment remains incomplete, a grade of 50 should be administered, a 10 point interval below a D. This grade is still failing but is a manageable starting point for students to recover: "The students failed to turn in an assignment, so they receive a failing grade. They are not sent to a Siberian labor camp."
In a related video, Rick Wormelli discusses whether we need "different degrees of F'titude" be it a moral or immmoral, good or bad, reason the student received the F. Aside from teaching responsibility for turning in assignments, he claims he also has a responsibility to "teach and engender in such a way that inspires hope".
What are your thoughts on the power of zero?
Rick Wormeli: Standards-Based Grading
FIGHTING FATIGUE
Are your students tired in the morning or after lunch? Try the stand-up game to wake them up and get them sharing. National Teacher of the Year Sarah Wessling demonstrates:
Check out the video here!
Check out the video here!
CIF STARS
Enhancing Class Discussions
Mrs. Stein utilized a Socratic seminar to enhance classroom discussions in both Government and US History classes. She chose current news articles to ensure the material was relevant to the students and helped to scaffold the discussion by having students pre-plan questions using our question stem cards.
Making Connections: Then & Now
Mrs. Byrd utilized writing-to-learn strategies to have students make connections between the war in Afghanistan and the Vietnam war. Students had low stakes journal entries, Cornell notes, and even integrated rhetorical devices into excerpts of short stories.
Foldables as Visuals and Study Tools
In Mr. Harris's class, students constructed foldables on Photosynthesis to help scaffold the learning process. Students also had to create representative images on each flap along with the definitions similar to a Frayer model.
TECH BYTES
RUBRIC BUILDING WEBSITES
Research suggests that students perform best when they have clear success criteria at the onset of an assignment. Rubrics help our students to crystallize their learning target and self-monitor their progress.
However, making rubrics can be time-consuming! Here are some websites to help you along:
Rubistar
The easiest to navigate, Rubistar has pre-made 100% editable rubrics with established success criteria , levels 1-4, for a variety of assignments including but not limited to:
- Math Problem Solving
- Graphing
- Posters and Brochures
- Research Reports
- Persuasive Essays & many more!
You can create rubrics with or without creating an account. Creating an account is free and you can save previous rubrics to your account.
iRubric
iRubric can be a bit tricky to navigate but you can create rubrics from scratch or search from hundreds of pre-made rubrics from teachers all over the world. Enter in specific search criteria and you'll be surprised at what you find. A search of "Biology poster" yielded 15 results!
You will have to create an account but it is free.
Teachnology
Teachnology is incredibly easy-to-use and allows you to build from scratch or choose from a variety of pre-made rubrics. Teachnology is interesting in that they provide rubrics for general class use such as:
- Homework
- Notebook
- Class Participation
- Teamwork & more
You do not have to have an account to create rubrics with Teachnology.
However, making rubrics can be time-consuming! Here are some websites to help you along:
Rubistar
The easiest to navigate, Rubistar has pre-made 100% editable rubrics with established success criteria , levels 1-4, for a variety of assignments including but not limited to:
- Math Problem Solving
- Graphing
- Posters and Brochures
- Research Reports
- Persuasive Essays & many more!
You can create rubrics with or without creating an account. Creating an account is free and you can save previous rubrics to your account.
iRubric
iRubric can be a bit tricky to navigate but you can create rubrics from scratch or search from hundreds of pre-made rubrics from teachers all over the world. Enter in specific search criteria and you'll be surprised at what you find. A search of "Biology poster" yielded 15 results!
You will have to create an account but it is free.
Teachnology
Teachnology is incredibly easy-to-use and allows you to build from scratch or choose from a variety of pre-made rubrics. Teachnology is interesting in that they provide rubrics for general class use such as:
- Homework
- Notebook
- Class Participation
- Teamwork & more
You do not have to have an account to create rubrics with Teachnology.