Posted by Atsumori. Category:
The journey of new tools, mindsets, and processes in schools has been an exciting, eventful path from traditional methods that were often uninspiring to new, vibrant methods of teaching--methods that are engaging, differentiated, and fluid.
The next leg of the journey, however, is one that is much more tedious, but necessary--it is the journey of detail, finesse, study, and evaluation. The list is longer than the professional time available thus a bit stressful, but by simply making the list and creating a timeline I can do the best possible job and stay focused.
I offer the list below to guide my work, and for your review if interested. I know most teachers have a similar list plus or minus a few items. If you review the list and find anything missing, let me know. In the meantime, I wish you well as you navigate the busy waters of school year 2013-2014.
Standards Based Report Cards
First, a new standards-based report card is moving us to assess very specific details related to student learning. That propels us to institute about 20-30 new learning activities in the next five-six school weeks that serve to relay the standards to students in positive, transparent ways while also assessing students' work in those areas. I am committed to transparency with regard to this process, hence I will craft activities that show students why the standards are important to their life today and in the future, and how they may assess their current performance and develop future skill. The activities will also serve to demonstrate student performance to colleagues, leadership, and families.
Close Reading/Reading Response
I bought several new books related to close reading, reading response, and reading workshop efforts at the NCTE. I know that critical thinking/reading skills are integral to student success, hence I want to continue to develop my repertoire in this area. I once heard an expert discuss reading instruction as "rocket science," and I agree. Teaching reading is a complex activity which differs from student to student, hence there's always a lot of room for growth in this regard.
NBPTS Renewal
I've had this on my to-do list for a long time, and the deadline is nearing. What's holding me back is that the renewal work does not fit my day-to-day needs exactly, yet I know that once I jump into this process it will serve as a good reminder of what it means to be a professional, thoughtful educator today. Plus I enjoy my affiliation with this organization--one that holds high standards for the teaching profession.
RETELL
All teachers in Massachusetts are responsible for understanding how to teach English Language Learners (ELL) at a deep level, and therefore required to have substantial coursework in the area of teaching ELL students. I am registered for this coursework in the spring. I have enjoyed my ELL study in the past and look forward to learning more specific details with regard to teaching all students, including ELL students, well.
Narrative Writing
We will employ SRSD, traditional methods, and renewed efforts in the narrative writing unit. This will include professional study and considerable classroom time beginning next week.
New Standards and Scope and Sequences
We're continuing to employ instruction and efforts to meet new standards as well as new curriculum timelines. The challenge here is that it's questionable whether the time, teacher energy, and student energy to learn/teach the standards to mastery is available--at this point it seems like the standards at fourth grade outweigh students' readiness or the available energy/time on task. I'm not giving up on this, but truly it seems like a steep mountain.
New Evaluation System
For me this mostly means remembering to collect and document evidence as I work towards meeting my yearly goals. Every couple weeks or so, I add links and notes to my evidence document--a document I'll refine prior to the mid-year and end-of-year evaluation meetings.
State Certification
I completed this task, but now I have to follow up with the State to find out why I haven't received the certification so I can get my refund.
Professional Institutes
My system hosts two professional institutes at the end of the school year. While it's a push to contribute after a busy school year, I find that the learning is always worthwhile. Hence, I try to participate each year. I also use presenting as a professional challenge as I choose areas that I want to develop and focus on those areas during the spring months of school.
Coding
I know it won't take long once I put my mind to it, but I want to include coding in my curriculum. This means that I have to invest a day or so to re-familiarize myself with this process. I hope to include the process first with regard to the math curriculum.
Farm Days continued
Our Farm Days field studies were successful in many ways. There were also many areas we'd like to tweak for greater impact as we move learning beyond the four walls of the classroom. Fortunately the farm has asked us to get involved in a new initiative--now we have to find the time to work with them on this effort.
UClass
This organization is building momentum as it fills with worthy lessons, learning ideas, and global outreach. continue to like the way my participation with UClass thrusts me into the standards with depth. To understand each standard deeply with the lens of young students, and to write a corresponding lesson takes time. That's the one challenge--I wish I had more time for this worthy endeavor, and I hope that the time I've spent so far serves other teachers well.
Beta Testing
I love the enthusiasm, new ideas, and support that start-ups bring to the classroom. I also like the way that the new tools invigorate classroom learning. Again, I wish I had more time to test out these items and employ them in our classroom. I'm chopping away at this tool by tool and find that I keep coming back for more since the tools result in greater enthusiasm, investment, differentiation, response, and learning success. The tools on my list right now include continued use of 30Hands, inclusion of ListenEdition in our upcoming narrative/digital story unit, and use of Tynker and eduCanon. What might be a good next step in this area is to invite the beta testers in to model a lesson in the classroom, that might be a two-for where the students and I learn the tool at the same time.
Tech Integration
Students crave the use of tech in classroom efforts. We're fortunate to have substantial tech equipment, and now the challenge is apt integration that results in positive learning results.
The list is long, and the time available for learning, planning, and change is limited for most classroom teachers like me who spend most of their time on-task with many students during the school day. Making the list, however, is a good first step, and now it's time to to start completing the tasks.
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