Quote from the article linked below:
'The most influential factor in a student’s classroom is the teacher. It’s not the iPad. It’s not the textbook.'
Click here to read more!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Most influential factor in a classroom
What is the one most influential factor in a classroom today?
Quote from the article linked below:
'The most influential factor in a student’s classroom is the teacher. It’s not the iPad. It’s not the textbook.'
Click here to read more!
Quote from the article linked below:
'The most influential factor in a student’s classroom is the teacher. It’s not the iPad. It’s not the textbook.'
Click here to read more!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Notes from the Fall ARA Conference
Several TPS teachers attended the fall Alabama Reading Association Conference here in Montgomery. The following are bullet points from the notes of teachers that attended the conference.
Keynote Speaker: Author, Denise Brennan Nelson
*Sometimes the business of life can get in the way of living artfully. Finding time in your schedule to connect, create, dream, stretch and play is essential for personal as well as professional growth.
*"Imagination is more important than knowledge." ---Einstein
*An "idea" is that which is seen with the mind's eye. You must keep your imagination "turned on" to see the idea. When you have a great idea, do something with it! (classroom, life, etc.)
*Gratitude Journal--write daily about one thing you are grateful for. . . using the truest, clearest words you know and it will shine on paper like a lighthouse does in the darkness.
*Books with life lessons: Buzzy the Bumblebee, Someday is Not a Day of the Week, Grady the Goose, Willow (Sleeping Bear Press)
*Six F's to be aware of prioritizing: family, friends, finance, fitness, faith, fun
Formative Assessment: Karen Porter & Gay Finn
*Formative & summative assessments should be a part of a balanced assessment system.
*Summative assessments are given periodically to determine at a particular point in time what students know and do not know. (examples: standardized tests, end of unit or chapter tests, end of term or semester exams) These evaluate overall school goals and alignment of curriculum--big picture.
*Formative assessments are part of the instructional process and provide information needed to adjust teaching and learning while they are happening in the classroom. It gives you information while you can still do something about it at the classroom level. Formative assessments help determine the "next steps" during the learning process that lead up to the summative assessment eventually. (examples: criteria, goal setting, observations, questioning strategies, self & peer assessment, student record keeping, reading logs/journals)
*The balanced use of formative & summative assessment produces a clear picture of where the student is relative to learning targets & standards.
Verbal Scaffolding: Dr. Shannon Henderson (Univ. of AL) & Dr. Connie Buskist (AUM)
*Instead of asking what the book is about, ask about what will be learned from the book. (Three Questions--Tolstoy)
*Reading strategies should be deliberate, goal directed attempts to control & modify the reader's efforts to decode text, understand words, & construct meaning of text. Reading strategies are "automatic actions" and used to develop skills.
*Outside-In Approaches: teachers demonstrate it and students recognize it
*Inside-Out Approaches: students demonstrate it & teachers recognize it
*Verbal scaffolds to teach a student (for when you aren't around!): What do I know?, what do I notice?, what am I wondering?, what have I learned?
*use Macbooks--students read a story to the computer, record, add background music, etc., students can listen to themselves read--great oral reading practice (Garageband, Podcast, etc.)
*Itunes U---Univ. of South Florida; Lit 2 Go--audio books for free download; Spanish titles as well!
Speaker: Debbie Silver (author/award winning educator/professor at LA Tech Univ.)
*It's not how smart you are . . . it's how are you smart!
*You can control two things--your choices and your efforts.
*You can fall down seven times . . . get up eight times and you succeed!
*Encouraged educators to continue to care for students.
*Book: Drumming to the Beat of Different Drummers
Keynote Speaker: Author, Denise Brennan Nelson
*Sometimes the business of life can get in the way of living artfully. Finding time in your schedule to connect, create, dream, stretch and play is essential for personal as well as professional growth.
*"Imagination is more important than knowledge." ---Einstein
*An "idea" is that which is seen with the mind's eye. You must keep your imagination "turned on" to see the idea. When you have a great idea, do something with it! (classroom, life, etc.)
*Gratitude Journal--write daily about one thing you are grateful for. . . using the truest, clearest words you know and it will shine on paper like a lighthouse does in the darkness.
*Books with life lessons: Buzzy the Bumblebee, Someday is Not a Day of the Week, Grady the Goose, Willow (Sleeping Bear Press)
*Six F's to be aware of prioritizing: family, friends, finance, fitness, faith, fun
Formative Assessment: Karen Porter & Gay Finn
*Formative & summative assessments should be a part of a balanced assessment system.
*Summative assessments are given periodically to determine at a particular point in time what students know and do not know. (examples: standardized tests, end of unit or chapter tests, end of term or semester exams) These evaluate overall school goals and alignment of curriculum--big picture.
*Formative assessments are part of the instructional process and provide information needed to adjust teaching and learning while they are happening in the classroom. It gives you information while you can still do something about it at the classroom level. Formative assessments help determine the "next steps" during the learning process that lead up to the summative assessment eventually. (examples: criteria, goal setting, observations, questioning strategies, self & peer assessment, student record keeping, reading logs/journals)
*The balanced use of formative & summative assessment produces a clear picture of where the student is relative to learning targets & standards.
Verbal Scaffolding: Dr. Shannon Henderson (Univ. of AL) & Dr. Connie Buskist (AUM)
*Instead of asking what the book is about, ask about what will be learned from the book. (Three Questions--Tolstoy)
*Reading strategies should be deliberate, goal directed attempts to control & modify the reader's efforts to decode text, understand words, & construct meaning of text. Reading strategies are "automatic actions" and used to develop skills.
*Outside-In Approaches: teachers demonstrate it and students recognize it
*Inside-Out Approaches: students demonstrate it & teachers recognize it
*Verbal scaffolds to teach a student (for when you aren't around!): What do I know?, what do I notice?, what am I wondering?, what have I learned?
*use Macbooks--students read a story to the computer, record, add background music, etc., students can listen to themselves read--great oral reading practice (Garageband, Podcast, etc.)
*Itunes U---Univ. of South Florida; Lit 2 Go--audio books for free download; Spanish titles as well!
Speaker: Debbie Silver (author/award winning educator/professor at LA Tech Univ.)
*It's not how smart you are . . . it's how are you smart!
*You can control two things--your choices and your efforts.
*You can fall down seven times . . . get up eight times and you succeed!
*Encouraged educators to continue to care for students.
*Book: Drumming to the Beat of Different Drummers
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Video Games and Learning!
Neurologist and author Judy Willis discusses video games and the importance of differentiating instruction to students at their achievable challenge level. Dr. Willis will present her session on Learning to Love Math at ASCD's Annual Conference & Exhibit Show in San Francisco, Calif., March 28, 2011.
Click here to read interesting article on the use of video game patterns for teaching and learning!
Click here to read interesting article on the use of video game patterns for teaching and learning!
Monday, January 9, 2012
Fourth Graders Enjoy Pioneer Week! (slideshow)
The fourth graders experienced what it was like to live as a pioneer. The teachers produced a hands-on learning environment where the students compared and contrasted life in the early 1800's to their own lives, i.e. education in a one room schoolhouse, entertainment, living conditions, food, transportation, and clothing.
The students dressed in period clothing, read from the McGuffey's Fourth Reader, used slates instead of paper, had a spelling bee, used the Bible as a textbook for several different subjects, learned about music, played games, learned to square dance, jumped rope before school waiting for the teacher to ring the bell, had special pioneer treats, cleaned cotton, and had two guest speakers. The entire week culminated in a visit to the Grange Hall School at Old Alabama Town.
Please click here to see a slideshow:
The students dressed in period clothing, read from the McGuffey's Fourth Reader, used slates instead of paper, had a spelling bee, used the Bible as a textbook for several different subjects, learned about music, played games, learned to square dance, jumped rope before school waiting for the teacher to ring the bell, had special pioneer treats, cleaned cotton, and had two guest speakers. The entire week culminated in a visit to the Grange Hall School at Old Alabama Town.
Please click here to see a slideshow:
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Highlights from Culture Study on Spain!
Our Lower School flight to Barcelona, Spain, was a huge success! Thank you to all of our faculty and staff for making this a rich learning experience for our students.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Happy New Year and Welcome Back!
I pray you had a blessed holiday with family and friends. I was constantly reminded during the holiday of how blessed we are here at Trinity and what a special place this is to educate children. Thank you for all you do each day to make it such a special place academically and spiritually.
Along with a new year comes new learning opportunities for our faculty! A big thank you to our professional development committee for their continued hard work for these plans for 2012!
Mark Your Calendars!
Here is a schedule of the professional development opportunities that are available during second semester. Most dates are pretty solid, but the dates are subject to change should a conflict arise. We are offering most presentations twice - once in the morning and once in the afternoon - to make sure all who want to come can do so. Remember, you get CEUs for attending. If you find that there is something else you need particular help with, please let us know or contact your technology integrationist - Becky, Karen, or Frank.
Also, please know that more professional development will be on offer this summer, but not necessarily the same presentations. So now is the time to attend if you want to learn about these things! Donna will send out a sign-up sheet as we get closer to each date so we know how many will be attending each session.
Monday, January 9 - K-5, Mandatory
Dr. Jennifer Good will present on "Writing Across the Curriculum" from 3:40-5:00 in the LS library.
Tuesday, January 10 - 6-12, Mandatory
(This is taking the place of Monday's usual division meetings.)
Dr. Jennifer Good will present on "Writing Across the Curriculum" from 3:40-5:00 in the US library.
Tuesday, January 17 - K-12
Rebecca Helms will present on Edmodo from 7:00-7:40 a.m.
Tuesday, January 31 - K-12
Rebecca Helms will present on Edmodo from 3:40-4:40 p.m.
Tuesday, February 14 - K-12
Kerri Watson will present on Project-based Learning from 7:00-7:40 a.m.
Tuesday, February 28 - K-12
Kerri Watson will present on Project-based Learning from 3:40-4:40 p.m.
Tuesday, March 6 - K-12
Becky Faulkner will present on Smart Notebook from 7:00-7:40 a.m.
Tuesday, March 20 - K-12
Becky Faulkner will present on Smart Notebook from 3:40-4:40 p.m.
Tuesday, April 10 - K-12
Karen McVay will present on Web 2.0 Tools/Useful Websites from 7:00-7:40 a.m.
Tuesday, April 24 - K-12
Karen McVay will present on Web 2.0 Tools/Useful Websites from 3:40-4:40 p.m.
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