Math Vocabulary

Mrs. Behnen's students have been focusing on math vocabulary, one of the 7 habits of highly effective math teachers. Mrs. Behnen has found topical and seasonal ways to make the study of vocabulary words a fun activity.

QR Codes are a Popular Way to Recommend Books

Students in Mrs. Albers classroom, and soon students who check out books from our library, can simply scan the QR code inserted inside the book's cover to be taken directly to a video review/recommendation of the book. http://goo.gl/4SM0u.qr

Communication Arts Menu

Mrs. Albers is using the menu above to manage her literacy block. The menu keeps students focused and on-task while fostering independence by demonstrating trust and providing choice. Mrs. Albers devised this system after studying the book, The Daily 5.

Mrs. Donze is using QR codes to recommend books. Students, parents, and/or teachers may use a personal device to scan the QR code inside the back of the book and be taken directly to the author's website to learn more about the book.

Mrs. Judd's 5th grade students found a fun seasonal way to recommend and report on books that they like! This display is just outside Mrs. Judd's classroom, room #36.

Instructional Rounds

During our October First Friday meetings teachers participated in the first of a series of "learning walks". This article (http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb11/vol68/num05/Making-the-Most-of-Instructional-Rounds.aspx) does a nice job articulating just what we hope to achieve with such walks. The article, by Robert Marzano, discusses a practice called instructional rounds, a spin-off of medical rounds performed by groups of M.D.s. Interesting and relevant reading. I hope you will take a moment and learn more about instructional rounds. Here's an excerpt:

Instructional rounds are one of the most valuable tools that a school or district can use to enhance teachers' pedagogical skills and develop a culture of collaboration. The goal of instructional rounds isn't to provide feedback to the teacher being observed, although this is an option if the observed teacher so desires. Rather, the primary purpose is for observing teachers to compare their own instructional practices with those of the teachers they observe. The chief benefit of this approach resides in the discussion that takes place among observing teachers at the end of the observation as well as in subsequent self-reflection.

The Daily 5

A group of teachers is currently reading The Daily 5 by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser. Several teachers have started to implement strategies to foster literacy independence. Picture is from Mrs. Schneider's 5th grade classroom.