Most of our math series is based on whole group instruction. However, as teachers, we know that small group instruction can help differentiate by incorporating enrichment and remediation as appropriate. How do you set up your math block? Pearson is a resource many teachers utilize for whole group instruction. Below are a list of resources for setting up small g roup math instruction. There are many different ways you can create small group instruction:
Please leave a comment sharing ideas or questions you have about your math block. A recent article online shared a series of 4 blog posts from a teacher who was challenged to go paperless in her classroom for two weeks. Her technology was limited: 4 classroom desktop computers, 8 school iPads {shared among 1,000 students!} that could only be checked out for a small amount of time, and an Elmo-type system. The first week she didn't even use books because they are made of paper-they read stories online using the projector and wrote on whiteboards for writing time. The second week she did use some paper {that was already printed and in their class-such as journals}, but the majority was still paperless. You can read her blog posts here for more tips and tricks she came up with as she went along. This series sparked some thought and we decided to pose the same challenge to any teacher at Pleasant Grove who wants to participate during the week of April 7th. If you choose to attempt an entire week of paperless learning, we will provide lunch for you on a chosen day and a free jeans day! We realize that going completely paperless as a school all the time isn't realistic or the best route for our kids. They still need to know how to write their names and hand write a letter and we don't want them glued to a screen all day, but we think the challenge may push you to think outside the box on how technology and the resources we have in our school can be better utilized. We are hoping to spark conversations and help your push yourselves creatively. Please leave a comment below or email Jessie if you would like to take on this challenge. If you want to participate, during your ER discussion, share ideas of ways you can eliminate paper from your day for a week and help each other plan. We are looking forward to seeing some great, new ideas!
Here are just a few ideas to get the conversation started: Morning work on the iPad or netbooks-put questions, math problems/etc. on the Elmo and have students answer them on their device {using Doodle Buddy, Word, etc.} or individual whiteboards for you to check. Assessments-Socrative. Great app/website that can be used like a clicker or for assessments {true/false, multiple choice, teacher-inputted quizzes, short answer, etc.}. Results are shown directly and immediately on the teacher app/website. Storybird for independent writing. Let students create poetry or short stories using beautiful illustrations. Our Pleasant Grove Pinterest Technology Board has links to some great ideas as well. Some are even pinned from the CG Digital Learning Day! What are some ways you could go paperless in your classroom? Domain 3 focuses on Teacher Leadership. You will need to provide evidence for the areas that you collaborate with others and contribute to our school and district. Below are some guiding questions and examples for evidence. Please leave a comment with any questions you still have or ideas for evidence. 3.1-How do you contribute to the school and district culture? Share notes, emails, etc. to identify leadership roles you have taken. Have you shared ideas with the staff {RTI models at ER, for example}. Are you a staff mentor to a student? How have you stepped up to contribute to school and district initiatives {iPads, for example}. For highly effective: What leadership roles have you taken on outside of what has been asked of you?
3.2-How do you collaborate with others? What committees have you volunteered for, workshops attended, or conferences you asked to go to? What ideas have you shared with colleagues? How have you pushed yourself to learn more and try new things? How do you continue to educate yourself and others? For highly effective: Are you a positive influence during collaboration and meetings? Do you offer new ideas and share things that work for you? In what ways have you volunteered to collaborate or help others? 3.3-How do you continue to pursue new ideas and skills? What new ideas have you tried? Are there conferences and workshops you have gone to this year to continue your education? Have you asked an administrator or colleague to observe certain areas of your teaching that you want to improve upon? Do you take feedback and push yourself to improve? For highly effective: Have you lead an ER discussion group? Do you share knowledge on a subject with colleagues and committees you are on? What area of expertise do you feel you can share with others and have you done that? 3.4-How do you advocate for student success? How do you differentiate to meet the needs of all of your students? How do you help students academically and behaviorally in areas of weakness? IEP meetings, parents meetings/phone calls/conferences, etc. can be evidence here. For highly effective: How do you help students outside of your own classroom? Do you work with students from other classes in your grade during RTI? Are you a participant in the teacher mentor program? Do you work with students you have had in the past who continue to struggle? Do you collaborate with teachers to help come with new ideas to help their students {SST member}? 3.5-How do you communicate with families? Newsletters, updating the class website frequently, emails to parents telling parents information, attendance at Parent Teacher Conferences and Meet the Teacher night are all pieces of evidence. For highly effective: How do you communicate back and forth with families? Emails that show continued conversations, individual parent meetings throughout the year, phone conferences with parents, etc. How do you address concerns about students who are struggling with their family? Do you communicate positive interactions as well? |