Content Area Reading and Writing Module 2

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.