New Teacher News

Summer is Here!

2010-05-31T16:56:00.000-07:00

What a year of hard work and learning it's been for the teachers and students of District 97! Our reward is some well deserved time off to relax, rejuvenate and reflect on our goals. The Better Teaching Newsletter will also take a break after June and return to us in September. Don't forget the newsletters are all archived on D97's website on the top of the Staff Tools page. I'd like to recommend checking out the Smithsonian Institution's website for educators as you're surfing around this summer: www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/index.html

The June Elementary Edition of Better Teaching includes ideas for lessons on law writing, autobiography writing and narrative writing. There are strategies for using positive language patterns and encouragement while talking with kids, and how to create a climate for student listening. Tips are given for reducing stress in the classroom, establishing effective filing systems, and for collaborating with colleagues.

The June Secondary Edition of Better Teaching includes ideas for lessons on cooking in math class, illustrating headlines, and writing persuasive letters to editors. There are strategies for using RAFT in student writing, formulating supporting arguments, and for communicating understanding of homework. Tips are given for reducing stress, motivating reluctant learners, and making accommodations for ELLs (English Language Learners).

Enjoy your summer and don't hesitate to contact me anytime!

"Sage on the Stage" or "Guide on the Side?"

2010-04-26T11:48:00.000-07:00

Below are examples of two classrooms working on the same lesson using different approaches:

In Classroom 1, the teacher is up front and students are at their desks. The teacher reads a passage aloud to kids from the overhead (not all students can read the fine print) then asks a few individual students to answer comprehension questions. Students write a summary paragraph at their desks, and a couple of kids get to share ideas from what they wrote. The teacher has done most of the talking during this lesson and is not sure about the comprehension of each student. Some students are not engaged for most of the lesson, and many are bored.

In Classroom 2, students sit in pairs around the room and take turns reading from copies of the story they each have. Some groups may choose to read silently. Pairs then discuss questions the teacher has on the board while the teacher walks around to each group and listens to their ideas. The teacher identifies key points s/he overhears that can be shared during the whole group conversation. Students write summary paragraphs and trade to read their partner’s when done. After kids discuss both paragraphs with their partners, the teacher asks kids to share their ideas with the whole group. Students have done most of the talking and the teacher has some ideas about the understanding of most students. Students are active, not passive, learners and it didn't take additional prep on part of the teacher.

The May edition of Better Teaching Elementary includes ideas for outdoor lessons, using flashcards, role playing for reading comprehension, and using diamantes for poetry. There are also suggestions for communicating lack of student success to parents, developing responsibility in students, and keeping students on task. Look for quick tips on encouraging boys to read, boosting vocabulary for ELL students, and for managing homework.

The Better Teaching Secondary Edition includes lesson ideas for map-reading skills, making predictions for novels, motivating kids to appreciate reading, and teaching vocabulary using word walls. There are suggestions for helping kids solve math word problems, checking for student learning in different ways, and for giving specific directions to kids. Look for quick tips on stress management, connecting with kids, and assuring that kids are ready for tests.

April's Topic: Assessment

2010-03-30T12:49:00.000-07:00

Formative assessments should be used frequently to improve instruction and provide student feedback. Teachers should be checking for understanding at least every 15 minutes, but asking, “Does everybody understand?” is not assessing understanding. There are many reasons kids don’t show what they know or don’t know in front of class. How do you check frequently for individual comprehension of material presented? Please share a comment!

Testing should not have the sole purpose of assigning grades. Carol Ann Tomlinson says, “Assessment should have more to do with helping students grow than with cataloging their mistakes.” Use tests to determine individual student needs, to inform instruction, or to evaluation your program. If you are checking for understanding in a variety of ways, you don’t need many tests. Students need immediate and meaningful feedback and they can get that from a variety of smaller activities.

Performance tasks or projects need to have learning objectives stated and students need to know what they are expected to present. Go over the grading rubric before kids begin to help guide their work, and meet with each student during long term projects. Self-assessments foster meta-cognition so use learning logs and reflective journaling. Students can rate their participation in group work and comment on their portfolio pieces.

The Elementary Edition of Better Teaching includes ideas for exploring trees on Arbor Day, sharing student news, and identifying author's purpose. There are suggestions for helping students new to class feel welcome, setting daily student goals, and for holding class meetings to work on better behavior decisions. See tips for connecting with other teachers on the internet, grouping for RtI, building responsibility into group work, and using test results to maximize learning.

The Secondary Edition of Better Teaching includes ideas for creating edible models of cells, summarizing readings quickly, and using service projects. There are suggestions for using firm discipline, encouraging parent volunteers, motivating students, and using technology in the classroom. See tips for creating writing rubrics, having students assess their progress, and building responsibility into group work.

Women's History Month

2010-03-05T07:49:00.000-08:00

March is a month to highlight and celebrate the contributions of women to our world. Our history books and other teaching materials have been slowly adding information but most still need supplementing. You'll find good resources if you search the internet; for example, check out the well organized list of ideas at http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/womenshistory.php.

Creative Curriculum Presentation

2010-03-02T09:58:00.000-08:00

March is a great time to get more creative with curriculum presentation; studying for ISAT is behind us and new staff is more experienced with the district curricula now. Student-centered learning can be achieved by creating lessons using cooperative learning, learning centers or stations, or an approach like the "Jigsaw" mentioned in this month's Better Teaching for Secondary levels. The elementary newsletter also give helpful hints for creating rich conversations and brainstorming through carefully worded questions to promote student thinking and learning.

The Better Teaching Elementary Edition for March includes ideas for teaching about ecosystems using The Lorax and for teaching word recognition using visuals from magazines. There are strategies for creating rich conversations, emphasizing self-discipline, helping struggling writers, and brainstorming as a group. Tips for discipline and collaborating with parents on expectations are included.

The Better Teaching Secondary Edition for March includes ideas for lessons on the environment, safety in science labs, and online field trips. There are teacher tips for protecting your voice, reducing test stress, getting peers to help students with disabilities, teaching students to have hope, and adapting sources for struggling readers. An explanation of the effective "Jigsaw" approach to group work is included.

African American History Month

2010-02-03T13:14:00.000-08:00

February is a great time to highlight the many contributions of African Americans to our country. This is also a perfect time for us to reflect on our understanding of current race issues in America, including our own beliefs and biases, so we can be sure we have the same high level of expectation for all of our students. We need to build strong, trusting relationships with all students, and respect differing points of view. We need to focus on intelligence as malleable and believe that all children can excel. To explore your own possible hidden biases, take the Race IAT (Implicit Association Test) at https://implicit.harvard.edu (go to Demonstration, then scroll down to Race IAT). It's a powerful tool that opens our eyes to the subtleties of racism that exist in ourselves and in our communities, and it's well worth the 10-15 minutes it takes to complete.

3rd-8th grade teachers of reading, check out this link to reading samples to use for ISAT practice. http://teacher.depaul.edu/ExtendedResponse.htm

February's Elementary Edition of Better Teaching includes ideas for helping students listen, choose books, practice empathy, learn from mistakes, and get organized. There are tips for creating a planetarium in your classroom, using bookmarks to track independent reading, using specific praise, and playing a game to practice estimating skills.

February's Secondary Edition of Better Teaching offers ideas for teaching Black History, teaching in a culturally diverse classroom, and increasing reading fluency. There are tips for researching information, learning the language of math, setting high expectations through performance feedback, and motivating students to learn.

Welcome to 2010!

2009-12-27T14:10:00.000-08:00

I recommend reviewing classroom expectations and reteaching procedures the first day back from winter break. Give specific praise for what your classes have been doing well so far, and ask students to help you describe exactly what still needs work. Also, during the month of January try to build movement into your lessons because kids aren't as physically active outside. Have students pantomime a scene from a story you just read while the class guesses what is being acted out, for example.

The Better Teaching Elementary Edition for January includes tips for setting up math stations, differentiating for a diverse classroom of students, using writing prompts to help students prepare for class discussions, instilling a climate of appreciation and patience, and teaching specific study and memorization tips.

The January Better Teaching Secondary Edition shares tips for supporting student organization (it lists 4 activities, try 1 per week during homeroom for a month of organization!), efficiently reviewing homework, creating an on-line book club, documenting student performance using specific & measurable language, creating a reusable lesson plan for your last minute absence, and giving pairs of students techniques for reviewing reading and practicing for quizzes.

December is Here!

2009-11-30T08:02:00.000-08:00

As we decorate our classrooms for December we must remember that we teach students with a wide variety of religious beliefs and we want all kids to feel their culture is respected. This month moves quickly, and the week before break usually includes assemblies and parties so plan accordingly.

The December issue of Better Teaching: Elementary includes quick tips for writing to officials, creating internet field trips, managing student behaviors using statements of authority, supporting students with anxiety issues, avoiding burnout, and guiding students to ask good comprehension questions. The Better Teaching: Secondary edition includes quick tips for getting student attention without yelling, putting cell phones to use as learning tools, involving parents in student learning, reading test directions, protecting the victim of a bully, and offers a couple of good strategies to get all students talking and listening to each other's ideas.

What's New for the end of November:

2009-11-23T05:51:00.000-08:00

This week I've added a Google Doc which is a grid to help you organize "Curriculum Unit Planning" by Trimester. Don't forget to check out November's Better Teaching newsletter on the Staff Tools page of the district website. The elementary edition gives quick tips for helping boys connect with books, helping motivate apathetic students and build self-reliance, and using tiered assignments and assessment for differentiation. The secondary edition includes tips for helping kids research careers (good unit for advisory class), suggestions for co-teaching, helpful and easy tips for increasing student compliance, and how to challenge students with learning centers and extension activities.

Welcome to the New Teacher News Blog!

2009-09-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

The purpose of this blog is to provide useful information to busy educators about our district's curriculum, community and district expectations, our mentoring program, classroom management, and pedagogy. Please join the mailing list if you would like to receive email reminders about blog updates and let the information come to you!

About Blogs
The term "blog" is short for web log. This means a blog is actually a running list of information with the newest information displayed at the top of the page. Blogging fits the lifestyles of busy teachers because the tool is convenient, efficient, and safe. Use blogs to communicate important messages, collect information, guide student learning, and showcase student work.