Consistency!

Every couple of years in many school districts, a new program is introduced.  Teachers are in-serviced, often at the end of the school year - what! before summer break.  Or the in-service is in the beginning of the year when there are a million projects, ideas and forms to fill out.  Neither is effective.  And the rooms are hot both in June and early September!

The best program I ever was a part of was a new Math program.  The training happened slowly - two times the first year, a follow up the next.  Best part was a monthly get together with grade level partners in a few schools (not all of them- to keep the groups small) for about an hour after school. We shared what had worked, what hadn't and we had a mentor, who had a direct link to the author of the series!  So when we were really stuck, there was a way to get an explanation or answer.  Also we split up the planning, shared and then adjusted the lessons to our own style.  And the district was smart enough to keep this program. Turn-keyed the new teachers and kept up the tweaking.

As the years passed, each new group of students was stronger and more confident with the language and methods taught.  They were able to more easily build upon the previous year's learning.  Success!
Math grades improved and teachers were more skilled and comfortable in their teaching.

I saw the same concept in another district where they have been using Writer's Workshop for years. The students' writing was exemplary and far more developed than my district.  Why?  Maybe continued training, practice and comfort.  Wish my district had followed their commitment they made with the Math program and do the same with Language Arts!

What do you think?  As teachers, we want to improve and keep up with the times.  But there has to be enough time to really get used to a program, to let it become second nature, to see the nuances and anticipate where students will be successful or need help.  Districts need to choose wisely and allow success a chance.

                                  Read Alouds

There is strong evidence of a positive link between vocabulary development and read-aloud experience.  Every day through elementary and if we wished hard - into middle school, students should hear a read aloud.  This can be a chapter, a poem, a paragraph from science or social studies.  It's an entirely different experience for a student to hear modeling by the teacher, than reading themselves.

There are many ways this can be accomplished.  I always kept a novel on the lectern, so if there was 5 minutes left over or we were waiting for the fire drill or whatever - I could pick it up and continue the story.  If there are proficient readers in the class, they can sometimes read.  It's also handy if there is a substitute teacher, for them to read to the class.

Studies show that pairing an explanation aids vocab growth, especially at the first reading. This is in addition to stopping and wondering aloud 'Oh I didn't expect that!' or 'That's surprising.'

Vocab grows significantly with alouds and high interest reading.  One day in the food store, I heard 'Mrs. Richards!'  It was a student who I had taught 10-15 years before.  His first comment was "Remember that book I read in 6th grade?  It's the best book I ever read!'  He had to remind me of the title and then I realized it was one I had read aloud to the class. But it left quite an impression on him!

Invite others in to read aloud to your class.  Staff, parents, friends!  I recently read to a first grade and they were riveted, even though the librarian had read the book previously to them.  They found that so funny - different comments and questions and they knew th ending!

Using Templates

In an effort to alleviate some of the pressure on students to respond to questions on standardized tests, many teachers have employed templates.  These can be used to help reluctant writers follow a pattern.  It helps them not leave out parts of a response.  And it aids those students who get confused by the question - gives them a tool to at least partly answer the question.

A popular template that has been around for a while is Better Answers. It's often pictured as a hamburger.

•Better Answers

1.  Restate the question & write the general, or gist, answer

    2.  Provide evidence for the answer

•To begin with…Then…Next…For example…However…Finally...

•3.  Refer to the question again for concluding statement

•That is how/why…As a result…For this reason…Therefore…In conclusion…

Another template is:

RACE

R= Read – circle key words to use in answer

A= Answer – use key words

C= Cite examples straight form text for each answer

E= Explain – how each citation proves your point.

At a recent workshop, teachers at Connecticut Farms School in Union shared a formula they use called RAPP

R = restate

A = answer 

P = prove 

P =proofread  

And of course we can't forget OREO (opinion, reasons, explanation, opinion), but it is falling out of favor with the emphasis now on argumentative writing, backed up by facts and not opinions.

Happy writing!

Snowed in!  I have had plans to expand this but alas the days get busy and this has not happened.

A new group of student teachers started yesterday and am so looking forward to working with them.  Their first day in the classroom was early release due to the snow. And you now the students were excited!

Here's to a day of soup, chili and cups of tea.  Stay warm!

And for tomorrow, remember EVERY CHILD:

•1.   reads something that he/she chooses

•2.   reads accurately

•3.   reads something he/she understands

•4.   writes about something personally    meaningful

•5.   talks with peers about reading and writing

•6.   listens to a fluent adult read aloud

Educational Leadership 3/2012, Richard Allington

Work Smart!

School's begun and hence the data crunch.  No amount of data will improve student learning.  Yes, it can help teachers adjust instruction, it lets students measure their successes and allows parents to have numbers or grades or stickers to judge their children's progress.  But more is not always better.

An objective is the destination of a lesson and formative assessment helps teachers judge how far along the route they are.  Typical types include quizzes, exit tickets, questions and observation.  The use of rubrics enables tracking students' progress.  Once teachers feel the students are developing an understanding, then summative assessments such as tests, portfolios, reflections etc. can be employed.

Determining how much data you need to fulfill school/district requirements is one indicator needed to setting up grade books. But face it - what do you really need to make an impact on student learning? Whatever that is - design your rubrics, binders, tallies around that.  Time needs to be spent where it will produce the best results.  Consulting with grade level partners and coordinating your data collections can help.  No need to replicate unnecessary information. Your time is precious - use it wisely!

It's overwhelming! So many students, so many lessons and so much paperwork!  Use this to quickly assess each lesson you plan.  Be specific, how will you know if it worked and how will you get there? Be SMART!

¨S – specific-define exactly what

you want to accomplish in detail

¨M – measurable – how will you tell you achieved your goal?  (%, # etc.)

¨A – accountability – full commitment, be clear

¨R – realistic & relevant – ambitious & achievable  (raise the bar)

¨T – time line – steps to reach goal  

Read Alouds!

Every day, children in school should hear an adult or a fluent student read aloud.  It increases vocabulary by introducing new words orally in context, that read by themselves, they might skip over.  The reader can stop and explain the word, ask for meaning, and/or give examples of when/where it could be used.

By using your voice, the speaker can add emphasis, enthusiasm, and depth to the words.  Oh and how much fun it is when the reader uses different voices for different characters!  Even if only one or two voices!

But face it, the best part of listening, is relaxing.  The receiver can sit back, stare out the window, go in and out of the story and enjoy it.

 I always had a book on the edge of my desk.  We would read it if there were 5 minutes before lunch or 10 minutes before dismissal.  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone enticed my students to read it again at home.  Sideways Math stumped us many times and we laughed when we realized what clue we had missed!  Ten years after I had taught 6th grade, I ran into a student at the food store.  First thing out of his mouth was 'Remember that book we read!'  Took me a bit to recall the title as I read 6 or more each year aloud.  'That was the best book I ever read!'  Actually I, the teacher read it to the class.  But to this young man it left a lasting impression.