This week our Team Leaders traveled to Everglades Elementary. We had an opportunity to visit classrooms and collaborate with the other Team Leaders from the Weston elementary schools. While walking through the school and visiting classrooms, what hit me was that it was apparent that the students were writing every day. I saw firsthand text-based writing in several classrooms. In addition there were writing samples throughout the school, posted in classrooms and in the hallways. Everglades is in our SES (SocioEconomic Status) band and they have outperformed our school on FCAT results.
My takeaway from the visit is that our students should be writing every day. Writing is the most important component
of literacy to me. Through their writing, students demonstrate comprehension, are able to interject
their opinion and provide text-based evidence. One of the rooms that we visited was a fifth grade class where the students were presented an article about football and whether children under the age of 14 should be playing. The class was asked to work in groups to read the article, choose a side of the argument and then write a defense of their opinion using evidence from the article. There was authentic engagement in this learning experience because the article was of interest to them. What are some types of articles that would work with our students? How about an article focusing on the use of Minecraft in school or one that states that soccer is the best sport? Or how about we ask the students what they are interested in and find articles for them to read in their areas of interest? Our students are not going to be able to reach higher levels if we do not present opportunities for them to write every day. Writing in this way is a surefire way to bump up to higher DOK levels. I cannot wait to see evidence of this type of writing as I visit classrooms and samples posted throughout the school.
- We will be hosting two meetings in the very near future. One of them is my Sub-Cadre, which consists of our Director, Mark Narkier, and several Principals. This will take place on October 29th. The other meeting is on November 7 and is for the Team Leaders of the elementary schools in Weston. We will be visiting classrooms on both days.
- Our Book Fair continues until next Wednesday.
- Team Collaboration is scheduled for next Wednesday afternoon. Please continue to plan for high level DOK activities.
- Wear Pink Day is next Friday. My mother is a breast cancer survivor so I have a personal stake in helping to raise awareness about this type of cancer. I encourage all of you to get checked. Remember that early detection is the best protection.
The Search for "Innovating": I just posted on Edmodo some information about vocabulary instruction. Please check it out and join in the conversation by responding to my post. I am looking for a high level of participation on Edmodo.
I would love to visit classrooms where some awesome vocabulary instruction is taking place.
Remember that Innovating means that the strategy is working for 100% of your students.
What You Might Have Missed on Twitter this Week:
Here's an article that I posted this week from the Sun-Sentinel about the new State Assessment -
Testing Worries
I posted some great things I saw in classrooms this week. Here are some pictures from my visits:
Let's keep it up. I know there are great things happening out there. Invite me to your room when awesome is taking place! I would love to Tweet about you.
Quote of the Week - This is a great quote about the RtI process. We will be holding a Faculty Collaboration about RtI on the afternoon of the Early Release Day on October 23.
"If the water in the aquarium is dirty, it makes little sense to single out struggling fish for corrective treatment. The first corrective treatment that should be applied is: clean the water in the aquarium; all the fish will likely benefit from this action." - Amelia Van Larsen, Pasco County Schools
