Goals for Differentiated Instruction Video:
Differentiated instruction is pushed in all classrooms. This is important to do in order to make sure students are successful. I think the part of differentiated instruction that I find difficult is where you match student interest. I think that is very hard to do when there is a strict timeline to teach all the standards. Within my S.S. workshop I provide various activities that will meet the needs of students' learning styles and in my small groups I differentiate the instruction based on what they need.
The Story of Differentiated Instruction Video:
I have various books by Carol Ann Tomlinson and really think she is great! I really liked this video, and I like the background that she gives about how she came to the realization that differentiated instruction is the best way to reach all students. I think she really hits the nail on the head about how to organize and manage a classroom where you are using differentiated instruction. Love her comment about looking at the big picture.
Learning Theories Power Point:
This power point broke down how to differentiate and what it is. Allowing students to construct their own meaning but scaffolding upon their prior experiences to learn new material is the best way to reach all students. I really liked the 6 A's.
Planning Strategic Reading Lessons Power Point:
This sounds very similar to close reading that I have been learning about over the course of the last year. I do like the various ways students can demonstrate their learning though. I like how this power point really took you though the steps to plan out a lessons from beginning to end. This seems very helpful for guided reading groups as well.
Literacy Reading Content Power Point:
I feel like I do many of the components in this power point. Often times I paraphrase or give other materials to ALL my students because the text book is difficult and boring for most of the students to read. I do guided reading lessons with all my students and this is where the leveled texts comes into play. I really like the key words for each content subject. I am teaching my students about organizational structures and this will be easily relate able for them. The before, during, and after teaching page is really helpful too and of course all the resources at the end are helpful. Many of my students struggle in the reading of the S.S. content and so using these resources will be very helpful to get them engaged and learning without it being above their level, difficult, or boring.
Scaffolding:
I really like this chart, I saw this in my undergrad classes. It is a great visual to show that the teacher should not be doing too much but providing support for the students and then the students should be doing a lot of the work. I think many times I work too hard and am not making the students work hard enough.
Verb Wheel: Bloom's Taxonomy:
I actually have a Bloom's Taxonomy binder that we developed at my school a few years ago and this very wheel is in the binder. We had an AP that really worked with us on our level of questions in classroom discussion and on assessment and used this wheel to analyze assessments.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Content Area Reading Module 1
Power point Presentation: Expository Texts
I really liked this power point presentation because I am about to start a unit on text structures of informational text with my students, so many of these examples are some of the various topics I plan to teach over the next few weeks. It is very important for students to understand the physical aspect of the text in order for them to use it to their advantage. Understanding how the text is set up will allow them to guide themselves to understanding the topic. Information can be gained from the headings and pictures that go along with the topic. Many times this can be seen in a science or social studies text book but also in a non fiction text that is more leveled for the student.
I really liked the various signal words that were presented for each text structure. This is very helpful for students but can also be used to transfer to their writing. This power point provided a great step by step guide to teaching about the various organizational structures found within non fiction texts. Modeling along with guided practice and exposure to these structures are beneficial for students as they learn about the structures and how they are useful in comprehending the material.
I am really glad that this one of the first topics to learn about in the modules since I will be hitting on this topic with my own students. I think this power point provided a lot of great information that I can transfer into my own classroom lessons. I need to make sure I am making connections with text examples so students are able to comprehend the texts we are using for our unit.
Video: Strategies for Parents of Struggling Readers
This video had some great ideas! I have come across many parents that struggle to get their child to read at home or feel like they don't know how to help them get better at reading. Many parents can do these activities at home to help their child improve their reading skills. Some of these activities are for more primary aged students but would work with students that still struggle with decoding in the upper grades.
The consonant vowel nonsense game is a great way to practice without students thinking they are learning. The fluency activity that was presented in the video is a really good way for students to practice- even in 5th grade. I have many students that struggle with their fluency which then negatively effects their comprehension. I liked the vocabulary sketch idea- this would even be great for content area vocabulary. I do summary pictures for each unit we study in social studies- students are given a short summary to glue into their note book and then they draw a picture out to the side. I think allowing students to make picture connections helps them to visualize the information or meaning of words and thus increasing comprehension and vocabulary acquisition.
Vacca Chapter 14:
My school has been back and forth with using textbooks in the classroom. Many schools in my district have taken away some textbooks and require teachers to teach without them and the reasoning behind it is that many of the textbooks are too difficult for students to understand. However, as I read parts of this chapter I realized that we are doing our students a dis service by not allowing them to be exposed to and learn from the textbooks if only to learn how to use text and organizational structure to their advantage.
I liked how this chapter mentioned using trade books to enhance the learning of various content area topics that are very dry within a textbook. My school pushes using literature across the curriculum and integrating as much as possible. I try to use various trade books for each unit of study so that I can go back to them throughout the year. I thought the various strategies that were presented to help students before, during, and after the text such as previewing, anticipation guides, and graphic organizers were all beneficial for students and leads them to use inquiry to help them locate other information about the topic and allow them the chance to collaborate with their peers in groups.
Trip to Hawaii Videos:
I really like how the video flowed well into the discussion graphic organizers. I use graphic organizers with my students but don't have a wide variety to use with them. I typically use them with content area subjects like science, social studies, and writing and really need to use them more with the teaching of reading and the structure of text.
I have never heard about Guide-O-Rama. I think this is a great way to set up a story for students. Using vocabulary preview techniques and exercises along the way during a read a loud are a great way for students to expand their vocabulary and also helps the ESOL and SpEd students to become familiar with various vocabulary words that are important for comprehension. I really liked how the conclusion to this Hawaii trip series concluded with a reading and writing activity that used many skills that can be integrated throughout a workshop model.
Fry's Readability Test
This was very interesting to read about as I have never heard of this before. We are encouraged to use real articles for kids that integrate content into our reading lesson and so many times it is difficult to determine if the article is appropriate for my students' reading and grade level. I will have to try this the next time I pull an article to use for close reading.
Irwin Davis Readability Test
I have never heard of this test before either. I think it is a great tool to use just like the Fry's test. I like that is is simple with a checklist. It doesn't seem like it would take a lot of time to complete or analyze.
I really liked this power point presentation because I am about to start a unit on text structures of informational text with my students, so many of these examples are some of the various topics I plan to teach over the next few weeks. It is very important for students to understand the physical aspect of the text in order for them to use it to their advantage. Understanding how the text is set up will allow them to guide themselves to understanding the topic. Information can be gained from the headings and pictures that go along with the topic. Many times this can be seen in a science or social studies text book but also in a non fiction text that is more leveled for the student.
I really liked the various signal words that were presented for each text structure. This is very helpful for students but can also be used to transfer to their writing. This power point provided a great step by step guide to teaching about the various organizational structures found within non fiction texts. Modeling along with guided practice and exposure to these structures are beneficial for students as they learn about the structures and how they are useful in comprehending the material.
I am really glad that this one of the first topics to learn about in the modules since I will be hitting on this topic with my own students. I think this power point provided a lot of great information that I can transfer into my own classroom lessons. I need to make sure I am making connections with text examples so students are able to comprehend the texts we are using for our unit.
Video: Strategies for Parents of Struggling Readers
This video had some great ideas! I have come across many parents that struggle to get their child to read at home or feel like they don't know how to help them get better at reading. Many parents can do these activities at home to help their child improve their reading skills. Some of these activities are for more primary aged students but would work with students that still struggle with decoding in the upper grades.
The consonant vowel nonsense game is a great way to practice without students thinking they are learning. The fluency activity that was presented in the video is a really good way for students to practice- even in 5th grade. I have many students that struggle with their fluency which then negatively effects their comprehension. I liked the vocabulary sketch idea- this would even be great for content area vocabulary. I do summary pictures for each unit we study in social studies- students are given a short summary to glue into their note book and then they draw a picture out to the side. I think allowing students to make picture connections helps them to visualize the information or meaning of words and thus increasing comprehension and vocabulary acquisition.
Vacca Chapter 14:
My school has been back and forth with using textbooks in the classroom. Many schools in my district have taken away some textbooks and require teachers to teach without them and the reasoning behind it is that many of the textbooks are too difficult for students to understand. However, as I read parts of this chapter I realized that we are doing our students a dis service by not allowing them to be exposed to and learn from the textbooks if only to learn how to use text and organizational structure to their advantage.
I liked how this chapter mentioned using trade books to enhance the learning of various content area topics that are very dry within a textbook. My school pushes using literature across the curriculum and integrating as much as possible. I try to use various trade books for each unit of study so that I can go back to them throughout the year. I thought the various strategies that were presented to help students before, during, and after the text such as previewing, anticipation guides, and graphic organizers were all beneficial for students and leads them to use inquiry to help them locate other information about the topic and allow them the chance to collaborate with their peers in groups.
Trip to Hawaii Videos:
I really like how the video flowed well into the discussion graphic organizers. I use graphic organizers with my students but don't have a wide variety to use with them. I typically use them with content area subjects like science, social studies, and writing and really need to use them more with the teaching of reading and the structure of text.
I have never heard about Guide-O-Rama. I think this is a great way to set up a story for students. Using vocabulary preview techniques and exercises along the way during a read a loud are a great way for students to expand their vocabulary and also helps the ESOL and SpEd students to become familiar with various vocabulary words that are important for comprehension. I really liked how the conclusion to this Hawaii trip series concluded with a reading and writing activity that used many skills that can be integrated throughout a workshop model.
Fry's Readability Test
This was very interesting to read about as I have never heard of this before. We are encouraged to use real articles for kids that integrate content into our reading lesson and so many times it is difficult to determine if the article is appropriate for my students' reading and grade level. I will have to try this the next time I pull an article to use for close reading.
Irwin Davis Readability Test
I have never heard of this test before either. I think it is a great tool to use just like the Fry's test. I like that is is simple with a checklist. It doesn't seem like it would take a lot of time to complete or analyze.
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