Barbara+S

Line of learning--How have my understanding and application of the CEI influenced my thinking and instruction.
Reading through the strategies was a good review. Listening to each group has given me a clearer understanding of each characteristic. Watching the video and looking for specific characteristics. Watching the video and looking for specific characteristics was very helpful. Applying what you learn is the most effective strategy. Also discussing with a paratanaaear helps you to review and and remember important points. Listening to other groups are they shared elped me to think and reflect on what I'd seen and heard in the video. It helped me to get a better picture of each of the 5 characteristics.

August 3, 2010

After this morinig I have a very good understanding of Assessment FOR Learning. I have a very good understanding of Formative Assessment, what it is and what it's not. I know that if used correctly it is an on going process thatl drives instruction, enable students to increase their learning and reach their goals. This is a partnership between student and teacher that provides students with clear targets and allows students to self-assess.

August 4th, 2010

Article: Renewing Our Schools: The Progressive Consensus The article was about best practices what is it and what it's not. We are going to academies next year and this is where we are going. Students will be active learners across the content areas. More responsibility will be transferred to the students and teachers will need to cooperate and have varied roles. Parents will be asked to take an active part in their child's education. Each academy will be a small community working and learning together. Holistic learning is learning where students gain abilityies most effectively by going from whole to part and see its value

August 5th 2010

Teaching for Understanding, great video today. I have a good understanding of the attributes. We had a good discussion at our table about teaching for transfer and we discussed different ways we could do this in our classrooms. Jeanne and I also feel that our academies will push this forward next year with the different content teachers having the opportunity to collaborate with each other next year.

Barb, I think many of the Write to Learn strategies can be used to encourage student thinking about how current units of study can transfer to job-related expectations. I am having early success with the professional development and hope that is a sign of things to come. We might benefit from discussing how we also re-visit reading strategies from last year along with the writing strategies for this year. I encouraged my staff to do so, reflecting that one year of attention is not going to create a miracle in reading comprehension -- I wish!

January 11, 2011

I see I have been falling down on the job here and not posting! Jeanne, check your page for my response.I think I answered you in the wrong place. I have been implementing the writing strategies in our monthly professional development sessions. All teachers need to attend and the reception and their implementation has been quite good. I have a few teachers that are having some difficulty implementing and understanding the importance of writing to learn. A couple of the English teachers also have a problem with not grading student writing. All in all I feel it is going quite well. Teachers are attending regularly and making appointments for observations. Teachers are seeing the benefits of using written conversation and write arounds. They are also using exit as well as entrance slips. This month we will be concentrating on summarization.

February 25, 2011

The PD is going well this year. The teachers are thankful for the strategies and have gotten very creative in their use. Our 2nd monthly meeting is a time to share what they are implenting in their classes and they bring student samples. Teachers report that students are writing more with less complaints. Teachers have reported that students have done very well on the RAFTS. Some examples are: Spanish Class: Letter to friend or parent comparing/contrasting high school life in the US /Mexico, Math; R-prospective employee looking for a job, A-panel of supervisors, F-letter of interest, T- explain knowledge of systems equations used to balance budgets. Reading; R-Dear Abby. A-person looking for advice, F letter of advice, T- how to treat cold sores. Science; R-bones, A-your body,F poem, T-the importantance of bones and taking care of your bones to maintain good health. The students writing has been very creative and informative. Students have a better understanding of the content!