2. Find an article: Structured literacy vs. Balanced literacy approaches to reading read and reflect including the impact each has on meeting the needs of ALL students in your classroom. 

**PLEASE write your name on each post.  Thanks!

3)Find one VIDEO about reading instruction that interests you, post to the Padlet (Week 2) with a short reflection.  Watch at least one other video posted by a classmate and respond to theirs (what did you learn, what do you have questions about, etc?)

4)Please add your name to your current posts and any from other weeks, so you get credit. Thanks so much!

 

Mathematical Play
Dan Finkel said Mathematical Play is a "gift" of ownership and that Mathematical Thinking "flourishes in Mathematical Play".

According to Google, "Mathematical play reinforces the current knowledge and it assists future problem solving/mathematical activities. During the mathematical play activities, children come across different types of daily problems and they construct several solution ways for them spontaneously."

1.     Memorizing the steps: this helps student remember whenever they are given the similar questions or concepts. 

2.     Educators are not the answer keys: Being an educator or adult doesn’t mean we know everything, and we shouldn’t be ashamed to say, I don’t know, and I want to learn as well as we go. 

3.     Not knowing is not failure: Student tend to feel bad when they don’t know a concept or formula and this makes them feel bad but, this is good because it helps with the devolvement of their brain to think. 

 

1.     Struggling doesn’t determine failure but helps with thinking 

2.     Struggling helps students to develop abilities to take risks  

 

1.     Thinking only happens when we have time to struggle.

2.     We need to teach students to preserve by giving them time to work through real problems and ask questions. 

3.     You are not the answer key, as a teacher it’s okay to say you don’t know because you don’t have to know everything.

 

Two Interesting Facts:

1.     “When we're not comfortable with math, we don't question the authority of numbers." I completely agree and believe it to be a fact inside of the classroom.

2.     Math encourages courage, curiosity, and creativity. 

 

One New Vocabulary Word:

Throughout this video, I knew all of the words, but I typically have looked at them differently. My “new” vocabulary word that I took from this video is failure. Inside the classroom, specifically teaching math, it is important to let students know it’s okay if you don’t get this right. But remind them that they are not a failure. Many adults have negative emotions to math due to their early years in schools. This can stem from not performing well because we USED to be taught that math is about how many questions you get right. As educators, today we have the ability to teach students that the word failure does not mean bad, stupid, or dumb. Instead replace it and teach students that they will get it and even if they don’t the first few times that okay too. It’s how we approach the situation that will reflect upon our students. 

The students and the teacher will need to work together to create a culturally responsive classroom. The teacher will need to gather information about students cultures and bring that information into daily lessons. Students will need to feel that the environment is safe enough to share their cultural beliefs.

 

My favorite varied thinking routine would be to think, see, wonder. I believe that this teaches students to use reason why they believe that and go beyond guessing. I don't have a least favorite, but I also think that the think puzzle is a great tool to use, especially in older grades such as 4th and 5th. These two stand out to me because they foster open communication that supports students' thoughts and claims.

 

While learners are there to be active learners, participate in classroom discussion, and be members of a classroom community. This is where accountability, inclusivity, and the culture of learning will appear.

Wouldn't it be a wonderful 'twist" if all who read and listened to this fabulous story were inspired to.......
Steps of the Scientific Method

 

Culturally responsive teaching is an educational reform that strives to increase the engagement and motivation of minority students who historically have been both unsuccessful academically and socially alienated from their schools. The standard is based on student learn and the way they learn is based on how we teach them and deliver our content to them. Social studies are within the standards because it talks about people’s background and norms that govern out society. Teachers we are the support based of the student and they rely on us to deliver the material and be their line of defense when it comes to help and understanding of content. 

A culturally responsive classroom is to practice ongoing reflection; teachers identify their thoughts, values, and behaviors about their own and other cultures. Such thinking allows teachers to gain more profound levels of self-knowledge and recognize how their personal worldviews can influence their teaching and shape their students’ concepts of self. It creates opportunities to reconsider stereotypes and allows teachers to consider how instruction might be better.

Teachers may find it difficult to reflect upon their own culture. Therefore, their opinions, values, and expectations about education and behavior are part of the dominant cultural perspective and are regarded as the norm. As a result, many teachers do not recognize that their own culture influences their expectations about students and, in turn, affects their students’ performance. Teachers and students need to work together to create a culturally responsive classroom. 

 

I have never seen or used the verb wheel. But, I think it is a great tool that allows students to go beyond the surface and think deeper. Bloom's taxonomy is important because it establishes a framework for comprehending various levels of learning. It also is designed to give teachers a common vocabulary to communicate and exchange learning and evaluation approaches. Finally, to help kids develop higher-order thinking capabilities by building on lower-level cognitive abilities.

       This article contains TONS of fabulous teaching ideas for every core teaching subject.  

       Nathaniel Provencio, Principal of Minnieville Elementary School exclaimed to "get it right the first time", in one of the featured videos.  He emphasized to pour in all the necessary objectives and on ground levels, not to wait until a student fails, then provide resources, but to always jump way ahead, shower on each child everything to make them successful to begin with.

I, personally, concur with that.

       Principal Provencio also stated to view

ELL's as gifted academically and emotionally talented, which I liked and agreed with, as well.  He further expounded on the fact of how gifted a child must be in order to assimilate in so many foreign circumstances and situations.  He also said these are students of promise, not academically challenged.

       In another clip, Lori Dodson pointed out that not behaviors require a special education referral, but could be results of other things, or trauma.  She emphasized relationship building with the family is a key.

       This article is a goldmine of educational nuggets.  Thank you!

       Culturally responsive teaching is a research-based approach to teaching.  It connects the cultures of students, their languages, and life experiences with what they learn in school.  Such connections assist students' with rigorous curriculum and high academic skills.

       Our CMSD academic standards reflect support of culturally responsive teaching in the areas of knowing our students; communicating with our students' families; as well as with our students' communities; communicate clear and high expectations for everyone.

A culturally responsive teacher... ...demonstrates strong empathy and caring 

...reflects upon their beliefs about people from other cultures

...reflective of their own cultural frames of reference

...is knowledgeable about other cultures

...uses cultural experiences of students in regular, daily instruction

...embraces students' native language and utilizes the families as assets

...creates a "respect, represent, and reflect all students" class environment

...communicate clear and very high expectations for everyone

In an active culturally responsive classroom, students have a responsibility to... 

...demonstrates strong empathy and caring towards self and all

...respects beliefs about people from other cultures

...seek to become knowledgeable about other cultures

...respects self and all, in and outside of  class environment