What's New at EMIS
April 2017 Edition

April's M-Powerment Strategies:
Yes, there are 2 this month...
M-8: Research and Inquiry-Based Thinking
Students demonstrate critical thinking and higher-level understanding through rigorous questioning, project-based learning and inquiry-based instruction.
M-9: Students Skilled for Success (4Cs)
Students routinely choose, critically analyze and evaluate resources, collaborate with peers, and communicate their ideas in creative ways.
- Use questioning at different levels of knowledge (recall vs. application)
- Incorporate elements of research in learning activities
- Plan lessons that allow for inquiry-based learning vs. direct instruction
- Allow students to apply their learning and new knowledge through project-based learning
- Let students learn by experimenting, trying, doing, and questioning versus you telling them
- Experiment with Makerspace, STEM, Virtual Reality, Coding, and other activities that focus on future careers
- Bring in or Skype with community speakers, and arrange (virtual) field trips to allow for experiential learning
- Teach note-taking strategies and graphic organizing to help students make connections to content
- Collaborate with School Library Media Coordinator to design research-based lessons and activities
- Use research features within Google (Google Scholar, Easy Bib, etc.)
- Analyze current events, primary sources and texts to investigate essential questions
- Let students choose the best tool and method to present their learning with creative products
- Teach students effective listening and public speaking skills
- Allow students to learn teamwork and collaboration skills by working with diverse partners and groups to create discussion and learning products
- Allow students to create work products that have an outside audience and purpose
- Use Common Sense Media and other sources to teach students how to be responsible digital citizens
- Teach reading and writing skills that will transfer to future school and workplace
- Use literacy strategies such as text annotation to help students read critically
- Use collaborative groups with defined roles to help students develop leadership skills

Booktasting with Mrs. Smith
Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Lasky recently set up a booktasting for Mrs. Smith's students to select what book they wanted to read in small group. To give students a preview, they played a "trailer" about the book, then gave them time to explore the book! This activity provided students choice in their learning, a strategy shown to increase learning and motivation on a topic by 20%. Talk to Mrs. Lasky if you want to try out your own book tasting for students!

3rd Quarter Professional Development
Need Additional PD Credits?
How to Teach kids to Love Poetry, Even if you don't!

Review can get tedious! Here are some ideas to "spice it up"!
Your classes are set up! Login or see Tara for information!
Curriculum Alligned Self Paced Math Game

Tara Gander Your Instructional Coah...She's here to help with any curriculum, lessons, and programs! Let's plan and co-teach a lesson! Email me and let me know how I can help. | Marsha Rhyne Our help-desk Manager.... She's always ready to help with student and teacher computer issues! Please submit a work order and she will be to you as quick as she can! | Mesha Lasky Your School Library Media Coordinator (SLMC).... She's ready to help you find the right fit book, help students find resources for research, or coteach a lesson! Please let her know how she can help! |