written by Heath Kelley, DMS 5th Grade Teacher Athletes, musicians, artists...even teachers have others that they imitate in order to learn the intricacies of their chosen craft. Benjamin Franklin, for example, was well known to have imitated others to make himself a better writer (see his words here). When students are given the opportunity to model others, they also become better. Recently, Steve Petersen and I collaborated on a writing task in which we sought to improve informational writing through imitation. We wanted to create a task where students would be learning and using multiple informational writing skills to create a quality final product. The website Wonderopolis.org proved to be a great mentor for this task. The website provides many informational text features that students can learn about by mimicking the style and format of the articles. For example, the title of each Wonderopolis article is a question. Therefore, simply by imitating the format each student creates a title while simultaneously creating a research question. Another feature in the articles is the “Wonder Sources” section. This section lists websites the author used to write the article. Moreover, each article is written in a conversational style, embeds multimedia, and even highlights domain-specific words (Wonder Words as the website calls them). Process
Given all of these great features, we knew that by having students simply imitate the articles, a plethora of informational writing skills would be used. It would also provide many opportunities for mini-lessons and student conferencing. The process for students went something like this:
Checklists and rubrics are great, but the students really thrived in trying to imitate the product. I can’t help but think that the mental repetitions involved with studying and imitating a mentor provided more depth of understanding than did my checklist or rubric. From the teacher side, mini-lessons emerged from anticipating how students might need support prior to the moment they needed it (skills such as paraphrasing, citing sources, note-taking, etc.) and from individual conferences as we read over the shoulder or online drafts of the project. I also wonder how many other types of processes or products that I might find as mentors in writing or other subject matter. How might students try to build on the ideas of others in order to create their own unique products?
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written by guest bloggers Liz Fox and Allysen Lovstuen, Collaborative Teachers at DHS It all started with a visit to Stephanie Steines’s room. I was asked to cover for the first part of an Algebra class, and boy was I nervous. My fears were summarily assuaged, however, when the students filed into Stephanie’s classroom, eyes not on me but on the front board. Taking note of the directions Stephanie had written on the board, they got right to work. Why don’t I do something like that? How could I streamline my classroom routine? This short visit to a colleague’s classroom made me brainstorm about other ways we could learn from each other. The collaborative teachers throughout the district have begun hosting learning labs, a very prescribed, formal process which certainly has its own merits. But what if we wanted to work more informally? I discovered a blog post (http://www.cultofpedagogy.com/pineapple-charts/) suggesting a tried and true method: the pineapple chart. Pineapples have historically symbolized a sense of welcome—why not use that concept to invite colleagues to stop in for a visit? When I covered Stephanie’s classroom, I noticed these cubes with interesting symbols on them. She later told me they are plickers (https://www.plickers.com/). She shared with me, "I use them with my AP Stats students as a way to expose them to more multiple choice questions. I usually pull 3 released multiple-choice questions from past AP stats tests that relate to the work we’re doing in class. Students spend 5-10 minutes working on the questions at the beginning of class, I collect their answers with the plickers and then we go through the results together.” She then invited me—and anyone—to come see them in action on Monday mornings first hour. Here’s the beauty of the pineapple chart: its informal approach. From the blog post: “When a teacher sees something on the chart she is interested in, she goes to that classroom at the designated time, sits down in an out-of-the-way spot, and watches. That’s it. No note-taking is required, no post-observation conference, no write-up. Just a visit. She can even grade papers or catch up on email if she wants, paying closer attention when the moment calls for it, but getting work done in the meantime. She can stay for five minutes or a whole class period. The key word here is informal, and it’s the best way for teachers to learn lots of skills and techniques just when they need them.” Do you have a tried and true strategy you would share? It could be a technology application like Kahoot, Padlet, or even Canvas. It could be a discussion format (questioning techniques or jigsaw, for example) or something related to content. We welcome you to add your name to the pineapple chart in the lounge. We hope this invitation interests you. In the words of the Jennifer Gonzalez, author of the blog post: “I feel strongly that some of the best professional development available to teachers lives right inside the walls of our schools, and if we could just watch each other teach more (http://www.cultofpedagogy.com/open-your-door/), we would all grow exponentially.” written by Sarah Nowack, DMS 5th Grade teacher The last two school years provided me with opportunities to deal with some challenging behaviors- more so than in my previous two decades of teaching. Over the summer, I ran across this book title and mentioned it to Shannon Horton. Well, I had long forgotten about the book, but the librarian-extraordinaire hadn’t forgotten. She not only bought the book for our school professional library, but she delivered it to my classroom. I’ll admit, the hullabaloo of the new school year (combined with coaching a fall sport and taking grad classes) meant I didn’t really get around to reading the book right away. But, now that I have read the book, I can’t wait to tell others. Here’s the short version: if you are a teacher, you should read Lost at School by Ross W. Greene! Okay, okay...you need more convincing? Here’s the longer version: Lost at School by Ross W. Greene addresses why our kids with behavioral challenges are falling through the cracks and offers suggestions about what we can do to help them. Dr. Greene explains that students inherently want to behave. Children don’t really want to be naughty (or get in trouble for doing so), Rather, those students are lacking important thinking skills – think of it as a non-academic learning disability. Through an easy-to-read text, Dr. Greene presents CPS (collaborative and proactive solutions) as a means of reaching those students who have social, emotional, and behavioral challenges and helping them to develop those lacking skills. Using CPS looks very different than our traditional reward and punishment discipline plans. He calls the reward/discipline approach Plan A- it doesn’t teach students the skills they lack or help them problem solve possible solutions. Using Dr. Greene’s Plan B looks very different as it works with the student to develop the skills they are lacking. Lost at School breaks down Plan B into three steps -- the “empathy step,” the “define adult concerns step,” and the “invitation step.”
The most powerful parts of the book for me were the case studies. In chapter after chapter, the reader is given examples of teachers having conversations that follow the three steps of Plan B, and through these examples, we are able to see the power of the skill-building conversation. One concern, of course, is that the process takes too much time, but it can actually save time in the end by eliminating the need to repeatedly deal with problem behaviors. In fact, there is data to support that taking the time to do this can actually improve test scores. Dr. Greene discusses how teachers spend time focusing on academics but not behaviors of challenging kids. One possible reason for this is that we don’t have to report behavioral data. But- BUT- these are the kids we are losing. Haven’t we all noticed that many of our students who struggle with behavior are the same kids who also struggle academically? Another concern is about the other students- “The other kids aren’t behaving themselves because of the discipline code, they’re behaving themselves because they can (p. 175).” To that I can only say that we don’t teach every student academics the exact same way, especially if they are struggling, and applying rigid behavioral consequences to everyone in the exact same way may not be the most effective approach. Please let me be clear- Dr. Greene is not suggesting that schools eliminate all traditional discipline methods. Detention, loss of privileges, and other traditional consequences can all be effective in many circumstances. When traditional methods fail us, though, it might serve us all well (teachers, students, parents, and administrators) to have a model we can turn to that can help us teach students the behavioral skills they are lacking. Our school mission statement says that “individual needs are addressed,” and Plan B as described in Lost at School offers us one more way to meet the individual needs of some of our most challenging students. Feel free to reach out to me if you have read Lost at School or are interested in talking about trying Plan B! I’d love to keep the conversation going... videos by Zachary Fromm Zach Fromm has been experimenting with Canvas and is now willing to share what he's learned from trial and error! The first video covers setting up navigation links with the motto of K.I.S.S. and how he organizes his content using modules. In the second video, he delves further into the area of discussions and how to set them up in Canvas. P.S. Does anyone else think Fromm looks and acts just like John Green? Stay tuned for more videos and information on Canvas. Also, if you would like help with Canvas, please let an instructional coach know.
written by Jennifer Larson and Sarah Zbornik Stepping into Jennifer Larson’s classroom, you have hard time believing that what you are seeing isn’t staged or a one time event. Calmness exudes, yet Jennifer is standing off to the side. Watch this Decorah Middle School student use finger cymbals to start class as others pause, listen, and breath. Jennifer turned to The MindUP Curriculum: Grades 6–8: Brain-Focused Strategies for Learning—and Living to assist with this endeavor. (You can find this book in the DMS library.) The brain-based research has been impactful for Jennifer. She can explain to the students that when they are preparing to perform, they may feel anxious or even fear. But in actuality, this is simply the brain sending signals to the body. A student can decide that this is perceived fear and use mindfulness techniques to calm the body down and tell it that all is okay with the world.
It hasn’t always been like this in Jennifer’s class. Several years ago, she attended a “Mindful Class for Teachers”. One activity has stuck with her and helped her find patience and calmness for her students. The orchestra class begins with a “ bell of mindfulness” led by a different student each day. When the student leader steps on the podium the class becomes quiet. The students are taught to think the mantra pause, listen, breathe- the bell is rung and the students concentrate on the sensations of a resonant sound and their own breathing. This becomes a time for setting the tone and getting everyone- teacher and students- to achieve a state of mind in which they can all participate purposefully and thoughtfully. Jennifer has used this method plus many more for a calmer, more mindful class. For more information and lessons plans on mindfulness check out mindfulteachers.org and the Do’s and Don’t’s When Teaching Mindfulness. written by Amy Courtney and Sarah Zbornik PRIORITY STANDARDS With the new National Core Arts Standards and its emphasis on creating, performing, responding, and connecting, there has been much discussion to how we will now assess our students. In the arts, we say that creativity is the most important aspect, but in the past it we have rarely assessed it, primarily because of the difficulty in doing so. Thus, questions emerge. How does one assess creativity? Can a letter grade be attached to it? Is this type of assessment possible with standards-based grading? For Amy Courtney, addressing these issues, and at the same time allowing for improvement and student reflection, is now essential to her pedagogy. Amy’s greatest challenge is changing perceptions and perspectives, especially with parents and teachers whose art experience is focused around technical skills. She focuses her attention on showing a student that he/she can be successful in the art room even when a student doesn’t have the highest level of technical skills. For her, art isn’t about being able to draw perfect still life photo; art is about changing the world around you. Throughout her career, Amy has sought to educate students, families, community members, and fellow educators of the positive impact that artistic development can have. She hopes for people to understand that artistry is a learned skill that anyone can enjoy rather than something that is simply innate. Ultimately, she strives to make her classroom a safe and supportive space where artists of any skill level can learn and grow. ASSESSMENT This shift in focus also impacts the way Amy assesses students. Previously, her priority has been on craft, technique, and the end product. But, if creativity is the most important element, how can this be reflected in assessment? As Amy reflects, she realizes the process is important, if not more so than the end product. Now, she focuses her attention on “What do I want the kids to understand?” instead of “What do I want the final product to look like?” To get to this point, she built the assessments from the ground up. To assist in the process, she utilized the book Integrating Differentiated Instruction and Understanding by Design by Carol Ann Tomlinson and Jay McTighe. For each grade, she broke down the four separate standards: Creating, Presenting, Responding, and Connecting. Then, she determined the most important strands for each area. From here she developed the questions and built rubrics. Here is one section of her rubric for her unit on Power and Privilege: To view the complete rubric , please see Grade 7 Rubric - Power & Privilege.
Even though she still struggles with putting a grade on the process, this rubric helps the students see that work is always in progress. Students can see that creativity is a learned skill and can be improved upon. In an area where innate talent is often assumed to be critical, everybody can now show growth. written by Shannon Horton, DMS Librarian and Collaborative Teacher More and more I notice students looking and finding an “easy button” when it comes to independent reading. They choose graphic novels because the pictures help them enter the story quickly, they choose realistic fiction about characters and places that are familiar to them, and they often pick up books they’ve read before. That’s not all bad, don’t get me wrong. I’m a big fan of graphic novels, books that reflect my own life, and even books written well below my abilities, BUT I also push myself from time to time and reap enormous benefits. What methods have you found to push students in a direction that will get them out of their reading comfort zone? Here are a few ideas to get us started: READ A CHAPTER ALOUD Read a chapter, or a few chapters, to hook students and help them with the work of getting into a book. List the books in your classroom or on Canvas for student reference. (So many of you have done this as teachers, and I’ve seen the positive results in the library.) CONNECT WITH PEERS Make reading social. How can students talk about and recommend books to other students? This is satisfying for readers and can also hook new readers on books they wouldn’t naturally pick up. Could students be given a choice in how to share the books they love with their classmates? In Canvas start a discussion so that students can add books they recommend by attaching files, such as a picture with their book or a short video. ENCOURAGE NEW DIRECTION Assign an occasional parameter to their Independent Reading that requires them to reach in a new direction. Gene Yang, author and recently appointed National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature, has a fabulous idea for teachers and students alike. His challenge is called Reading Without Walls, and I think it’s just what this world needs. Could we as teachers take the challenge? Could students take the challenge and reflect on their experience? Here’s what I picture: teachers reading graphic novels, such as the ones written by Gene Yang, while students pick up a book about a life lived in a way they have no reference for. Self-selected, independent reading is key to developing readers. Give them choice! Praise and show interest in their choices! Let them be “lazy” and read something below their abilities. And, every now and again, find creative ways to push them. Gene Yang, pictured above, has been chosen for a 2016 MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant, so he must know what he’s talking about. (Photo Credit) P.S. If you want one of the posters that outlines the reading challenge, just let me know. I see it as a great way to advertise on your door how you’ve accepted the challenge yourself or to post in your room for students. I made it using http://www.canva.com/, my favorite tool for making posters and signs.
Written by Heath Kelley, DMS 5th Grade Teacher
Culminating Tasks for Close Reading I have found in my implementation of close reading that students eagerly want a platform to discuss and share the new insights they have discovered. The one task that has had the most success for me has been to structure a student-led discussion. This task incorporates many facets of ELA including multiple speaking and listening standards. During the last two years, Steve Peterson and I have experimented with using a structured protocol for these student-led discussions. We researched fish-bowl discussions, socratic seminars, and other formats before creating a simple, more fifth-grade friendly protocol.
Take a look below at the video Andrew Ellingsen put together of students in my classroom participating in a student-led discussion. The discussion helpers that we use are highlighted in the video.
Here are the basics of how our student-led discussions work... Students Prepare for Discussion Students are told ahead of time that the discussion will occur and are asked to select from a list of writing prompts. The writing prompts or “writing to learn prompts” as we call them, ask students to dig deeply into the text to find themes and important choices the author made. Students are asked to explore how the character changed and what the author wanted us to learn. They are encouraged to cite textual evidence to support their ideas. The writing is designed to untangle and organize student thinking so students are prepared for academic discussion. Students are also encouraged to write down some of their own questions along with participating in additional re-reading and annotation. Setting Goals On the day of the discussion, we organize the room into an inner and outer circle. We set goals as a group which relate to our discussion helper prompts. Refer here to read more about the creation of these discussion helpers (great work Steve and Andrew). Also, here are some examples of goals. Our most recent goals were to build on ideas like a ping pong match and dwell on one question at a time. After each discussion, we reflect on potential goals for the future. The observers on the outside of the discussion help monitor our progress toward these goals. The Inner and Outer Circles The students bring only their annotated text to the inner circle. The questions students had the chance to respond to previously in writing are projected for all to see. We have learned that this elicits better discussion than having students bring their laptops and anything else that might distract them too much from the discussion. Participants in the inner circle begin by constructing a summary together as a group. This helps the group remember some of the key parts of the story. After the summary, the students begin asking each other questions. Inner circle participants are encouraged to ask a question and wait for others to respond...otherwise we’ve found they will simply answer their own question! The key for students is to build on each other’s ideas, cite evidence, ask for clarification, and summarize important points (see discussion helpers). By dwelling on one question at a time, students are pushed to go further into a text. It is important to note that we have discovered that 6-7 students within the inner circle is about right. I try to rotate halfway through the discussion so that most students get a chance to be part of the inner circle. Within the outer circle, the observers take notes on highlights of the discussion and how students are progressing toward the class goals. They also write down questions I allow them to ask after the discussion. Brigit Storhoff, who has also used similar student-led discussions, has used Backchannel Chat within Schoology for observers. This allows for silent discussion outside of the inner circle. There are a number of backchannel websites such as TodaysMeet for discussion within the outer circle.
Reflection
Toward the end of the discussion, I prompt students within the inner circle to share one takeaway that they learned. Often students point out themes that were discussed within the story and important life lessons the author wanted us to understand. Next, the observers share highlights of the discussion and how the discussion helpers were used. We discuss whether our goals were met and what goals we may want to have in the future. If time allows, I have students reflect on their own performance, personal goals, and what new information they learned about the text. As I read the reflections, the students overwhelmingly explain that they come away with a better understanding of the story. It is encouraging as a teacher to see the students improve each time they discuss the text and understand other viewpoints. I feel like these are skills that they can take with them into many facets of life. Written by Shannon Horton and Sarah Zbornik The method that Shannon uses is called the Question Formulation Technique through The Right Question Institute and the book Make Just One Change. (The book is on our professional library at DMS.) The rules are fairly easy:
Even though this template is fairly straightforward, as I watched students go through the process, I was able to see how difficult it was, especially for me. Number two was especially difficult. Even an “Oh, yeah,” was placing a judgement on a question. By encouraging questioning, adults are giving value to curiosity. In an article, How to Bring More “Beautiful Questions” Back to School, Katrina Schwartz explains that we are born with curiosity. However, somewhere along the way we lose this drive. Shannon has just begun to learn about the QFT method, but so far it has proven excellent tool for focusing students on their research. For Fromm, experience has shown him that having student-generated questions increases the buy-in and motivation for finding relevant and valid information around a given topic. Have you used a questioning technique in your classroom? Has it increased engagement or depth of learning? Written by DMS Principal Leona Hoth Visit Part 1 by clicking here. I attended some great sessions at the conference. I’d like to share some of the information that was discussed. Building for Middle Level Success: Advisory and Advocacy Programs
Resource: http://www.filmclipsonline.com/downloads/PILLARS_1_STUDYGUIDE.pdf Engaging, Motivating, and Leading Young Adolescents!
Leading and Supporting the Mental Health and Wellness of Young Adolescents
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