I chose the unit called All About the ABCs-A Language Arts Unit on the Alphabet for my second grade class.
1. This unit impresses me because of the preparation and thought put into this lesson made it amazing. There were also so many different strategies used for all the different kinds of learners in the classroom. Such as, brainstorming, learning centers, pre-assessment, think-pair-share, independent and group projects, learning profile-based activities, and tiered assignments.
2. I learned about differentiation from this ABC unit that differentiation really can take place in a unit, and in the end every student can get the end product. I love this unit because there was different groups for everything, so everyone was able to be assessed as a class and also work with their groups to get their end result or goal. Everyone gets to make a book in the end, and the "getting there" part is important for their learning, but something that isn't always remembered. It's the end result.
3. I seem to understand it very well, after reading over it again and again.
4. I would need to teach them the basic letter sounds, brainstorming (because that is a term they may have not used or heard of before), think-pair-share may also be another concept they will need to learn or understand, understand poems, riddles, and different used of the ABC we will need to use for second grade.
5. I would modify it so my students are learning the appropriate curriculum, and so they are learning the best way possible, and understand that different strategies being used so they can use them for other concepts being taught.
6. I would modify these things by getting the corresponding curriculum for second grade, and assessing my students to see what they know or don't know. I will be able to find many things by doing a few simple assessments, which will also help me place them in their correct learning groups and give them the correct tiered assignments.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Week #7
The music lesson you presented to us made perfect sense to me. I appreciate you taking the time to do that lesson with us, seeing it in action made it fall into place. In order for me to do my own differentiation lesson I will need to assess who I am preparing it for so I can then place them in their proper groups. Either according to readiness, abilities, or interests.
After my assessing I feel i will be able to make a very effective lesson.
Thank you!
After my assessing I feel i will be able to make a very effective lesson.
Thank you!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Week #6
*Effective teachers spend a great deal of time working and interacting directly with students.
This statement is true for me because having that ability to interact with students and be there for them whenever needed will create security and motivation for the students, which will help them to continue to succeed. Teachers constantly sitting at their desks and not readily available for students will hinder assessments and question asking.
*Effective teachers know and understand their students in terms of abilities, achievement, learning, preferences, and needs.
It is through assessments that teachers will better understand students which will help them become more effective learners. It is the student's right to learn on their personal abilities, achievements, learning, preferences, and needs. Knowing these simple but yet important facts about students will make the biggest difference when it comes to learning in the classroom.
*Teachers who create a warm and supportive classroom environment tend to be more effective with all students.
The environment students and teachers have to be in five times a week will make a huge difference in the student's learning. If the classroom isn't a positive environment then the learning won't be at the level it should be at. It is up to the teacher to create the most effective classroom environment as possible for you and the students.
*Caring teachers who create relationships with their students enhance student learning.
Teachers shouldn't just always stand at the front of the classroom preaching to the students. It is so important to get to know the students as individuals, and show you care for them every day. The relationships between teachers and students will also creates that positive classroom environment mentioned in the above section. Learning will enhance when the surrounding relationships are positive.
This statement is true for me because having that ability to interact with students and be there for them whenever needed will create security and motivation for the students, which will help them to continue to succeed. Teachers constantly sitting at their desks and not readily available for students will hinder assessments and question asking.
*Effective teachers know and understand their students in terms of abilities, achievement, learning, preferences, and needs.
It is through assessments that teachers will better understand students which will help them become more effective learners. It is the student's right to learn on their personal abilities, achievements, learning, preferences, and needs. Knowing these simple but yet important facts about students will make the biggest difference when it comes to learning in the classroom.
*Teachers who create a warm and supportive classroom environment tend to be more effective with all students.
The environment students and teachers have to be in five times a week will make a huge difference in the student's learning. If the classroom isn't a positive environment then the learning won't be at the level it should be at. It is up to the teacher to create the most effective classroom environment as possible for you and the students.
*Caring teachers who create relationships with their students enhance student learning.
Teachers shouldn't just always stand at the front of the classroom preaching to the students. It is so important to get to know the students as individuals, and show you care for them every day. The relationships between teachers and students will also creates that positive classroom environment mentioned in the above section. Learning will enhance when the surrounding relationships are positive.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Week #5
"Literature circles provide an ideal vehicle for helping students learn to respect and appreciate the varied contributions of everyone in the class. To me, literature circles are also the best setting for exploring literature and for building social/community skills such as discussion, cooperation, delegation of responsibility, and respecting the ideas of others."
I really enjoyed this quote and thought it summed up literature circles just perfectly. The impact these literature circles can have are so great for both the students and the teacher. It helps build a great community in the classroom. Students seem to get more involved and engaged in the lessons when they are given responsibilities. Literature circles are flexible and can be altered to fit the needs of students of all different types.
"Literature circles really set the pace for what's to come. It gives the students a solid foundation for their future work with literature, and it gives me more than ample information about where my students are with regard to reading and analyzing literature, participating in discussions, and taking on leadership within groups. I continue to use this insight into their starting points to make instructional decisions as the year progresses and as we participate in more literature circles."
This quote matters to me because it shows the meaning behind literature circles, and the important differences they can make in literature and on students. I love how confident this teacher is in literature circles, which I think will make the biggest difference on the impact they will make and their effectiveness.
I really enjoyed this quote and thought it summed up literature circles just perfectly. The impact these literature circles can have are so great for both the students and the teacher. It helps build a great community in the classroom. Students seem to get more involved and engaged in the lessons when they are given responsibilities. Literature circles are flexible and can be altered to fit the needs of students of all different types.
"Literature circles really set the pace for what's to come. It gives the students a solid foundation for their future work with literature, and it gives me more than ample information about where my students are with regard to reading and analyzing literature, participating in discussions, and taking on leadership within groups. I continue to use this insight into their starting points to make instructional decisions as the year progresses and as we participate in more literature circles."
This quote matters to me because it shows the meaning behind literature circles, and the important differences they can make in literature and on students. I love how confident this teacher is in literature circles, which I think will make the biggest difference on the impact they will make and their effectiveness.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Week #4
"Because you are a human being, endowed with the value and possibilities of humanity."
"I must treat you with dignity."
This is great quote because at times adults seem to look at children as not a person or human being, maybe because of size, abilities, or knowledge. It is so important to treat each and every student as a human, and give them the respect you would want as a teacher. This help give students affirmation and will also help with creating a community within the classroom.
"We're all on a journey, none of us is ever through striving."
As teachers it is so important to remember to never stop pushing our students to do and be better. We must remember to be persistent and do everything we can to help our students to gain as much knowledge as possible. The students are not the only ones that need to continue to learn, as teachers we must also continue to learn, grow, and develop better ways to reach and teach our students.
"If a community of learners could live according to respect, hard work, persistence, and responsibility, the chances would be high that each student could find in that classroom affirmation, contribution, power, purpose, and challenge."
I will strive as a teacher to have this exact classroom for the exact reasons it lists; affirmation, contribution, power, purpose, and challenge. All these great qualities are so important not only in the classroom, but also in life and are necessary for each and every student to learn. The operation of this type of classroom would be ideal, and I know I can teach my adaptable students to do these things.
"I must treat you with dignity."
This is great quote because at times adults seem to look at children as not a person or human being, maybe because of size, abilities, or knowledge. It is so important to treat each and every student as a human, and give them the respect you would want as a teacher. This help give students affirmation and will also help with creating a community within the classroom.
"We're all on a journey, none of us is ever through striving."
As teachers it is so important to remember to never stop pushing our students to do and be better. We must remember to be persistent and do everything we can to help our students to gain as much knowledge as possible. The students are not the only ones that need to continue to learn, as teachers we must also continue to learn, grow, and develop better ways to reach and teach our students.
"If a community of learners could live according to respect, hard work, persistence, and responsibility, the chances would be high that each student could find in that classroom affirmation, contribution, power, purpose, and challenge."
I will strive as a teacher to have this exact classroom for the exact reasons it lists; affirmation, contribution, power, purpose, and challenge. All these great qualities are so important not only in the classroom, but also in life and are necessary for each and every student to learn. The operation of this type of classroom would be ideal, and I know I can teach my adaptable students to do these things.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Week #3
I love the student profile survey and student interest survey, they go along great with hallmark #1 and also with differentiating in the classroom. I would take the information I have learned about each and every student and apply them to my instruction each and every day to ensure each student is learning the way they need, and learning something they are interested in. I will then assess the student's knowledge of the material I am teaching, which can also help me make sure I am teaching the students with the information I have gained from the student's surveys.
For the first Student Profile Survey I would add another column that is titled, Doesn't Matter to Me. This could be used for the descriptions that seem to not matter to the student, things that could maybe be like the student or maybe not like the student.
In the Student Interest Survey I would add more questions to the favorites cause these are questions students don't mind answering. Questions such as what is your favorite food, favorite candy/drink, favorite famous person, and favorite color.
Other than that I really enjoy the surveys and think they are a fabulous idea.
These add-ins would be helpful for me because they would be things I would use in my classroom to get to know my students better, and help teach them in the most successful way.
They are all similar in the fact they are all personal to the student, it's not about what they know but about what they feel. All the inventories will seem to work out great to teach the students what they want to know, how to teach them, and what ways they prefer. The learning environment and success rate is going to be so much higher if the student and teacher know each other, and these inventories do just that. They also give so many different ways to respond, which is so helpful with the different grade levels, but whether they are circling a picture or writing a sentence the teacher is always gaining knowledge about that student.
Not only are these great to get to know the student and their learning preferences, but they are great for listing expectations for assignments to give to the students, which a lot of these inventories show. I am definitely interested in using some of these in my classroom. They are simply, to the point, and understandable for the students. They are great to help all the different students to see and learn things in many different ways. These different assignment inventories will help both the teacher and student with readiness with each and every assignment. It will be the product for less mistakes and confusion.
For the first Student Profile Survey I would add another column that is titled, Doesn't Matter to Me. This could be used for the descriptions that seem to not matter to the student, things that could maybe be like the student or maybe not like the student.
In the Student Interest Survey I would add more questions to the favorites cause these are questions students don't mind answering. Questions such as what is your favorite food, favorite candy/drink, favorite famous person, and favorite color.
Other than that I really enjoy the surveys and think they are a fabulous idea.
These add-ins would be helpful for me because they would be things I would use in my classroom to get to know my students better, and help teach them in the most successful way.
They are all similar in the fact they are all personal to the student, it's not about what they know but about what they feel. All the inventories will seem to work out great to teach the students what they want to know, how to teach them, and what ways they prefer. The learning environment and success rate is going to be so much higher if the student and teacher know each other, and these inventories do just that. They also give so many different ways to respond, which is so helpful with the different grade levels, but whether they are circling a picture or writing a sentence the teacher is always gaining knowledge about that student.
Not only are these great to get to know the student and their learning preferences, but they are great for listing expectations for assignments to give to the students, which a lot of these inventories show. I am definitely interested in using some of these in my classroom. They are simply, to the point, and understandable for the students. They are great to help all the different students to see and learn things in many different ways. These different assignment inventories will help both the teacher and student with readiness with each and every assignment. It will be the product for less mistakes and confusion.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Week #2
1.
Differentiation is having the knowledge of each and every student in the classroom, and teaching them the way they need to be taught. It is challenging, but will be worth the time and effort that is put into it. Each and every student will have a chance to learn and grow because as a teacher I chose to teach with differentiation. I love how Carol Tomlinson says that differentiation is responsive teaching. I need to always be learning and growing for each and every one of my students, but still have a solid foundation to build on.
2a.
"Schools are like airport hubs; student passengers arrive from many different backgrounds for widely divergent destinations. Their particular takeoffs into adulthood will demand different flight plans." (Levine)
"School, however, does not exist to be a cocoon or to substitute for a psychologist's office- although both elements are arguably represented in effective classroom environments. A distinctive responsibility of schools is to help young people develop knowledge, skills, and understandings to contribute to society."
"How is it going to be for me in here?" they ask, "If what we do here meets my needs to be safe, to become stronger, I'm with you. If not, I can be simultaneously present in the room and absent from what you are asking of me."
A learner seeks to meet 5 things:
*Affirmation
*Contribution
*Power
*Purpose
*Challenge
"Effective differentiation begins with awareness and understanding of basic student needs."
Explain:
I love all these quotes and insights from chapters 1 and 2 because they explain differentiation so well. They focus so much on accommodating each and every student, which is a great reminder and something I will be sure to do in my classroom. As teachers we are not subject to just teach the core, it is so important as educators to teach life skills to help our students be assets to society.
Differentiation is having the knowledge of each and every student in the classroom, and teaching them the way they need to be taught. It is challenging, but will be worth the time and effort that is put into it. Each and every student will have a chance to learn and grow because as a teacher I chose to teach with differentiation. I love how Carol Tomlinson says that differentiation is responsive teaching. I need to always be learning and growing for each and every one of my students, but still have a solid foundation to build on.
2a.
"Schools are like airport hubs; student passengers arrive from many different backgrounds for widely divergent destinations. Their particular takeoffs into adulthood will demand different flight plans." (Levine)
"School, however, does not exist to be a cocoon or to substitute for a psychologist's office- although both elements are arguably represented in effective classroom environments. A distinctive responsibility of schools is to help young people develop knowledge, skills, and understandings to contribute to society."
"How is it going to be for me in here?" they ask, "If what we do here meets my needs to be safe, to become stronger, I'm with you. If not, I can be simultaneously present in the room and absent from what you are asking of me."
A learner seeks to meet 5 things:
*Affirmation
*Contribution
*Power
*Purpose
*Challenge
"Effective differentiation begins with awareness and understanding of basic student needs."
Explain:
I love all these quotes and insights from chapters 1 and 2 because they explain differentiation so well. They focus so much on accommodating each and every student, which is a great reminder and something I will be sure to do in my classroom. As teachers we are not subject to just teach the core, it is so important as educators to teach life skills to help our students be assets to society.
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