Self-Study Journal #1 

I was surprised by some of the answers especially the question about the shift in the standards. I am glad that teachers and coaches were part of the team developing the standards. I did know many of the answers on the quiz so that affirmed my knowledge of the standards. 

I really like the detailed explanation of the concepts for each grade level. This will also be helpful when discussing with parents what is expected at each grade level when it comes to language and writing. My next steps would be to start forming pre and post assessments. Then make a plan for teaching the language continuum based on my grade level and meeting the needs of the students who are not at grade level. 

The quiz helped me to see the changes that were made and how they were made. I am glad that teachers had input in the new ELA standards. I am also glad that they divided the text requirements between fiction and nonfiction.

Taking the quiz helped me to clarify what I know or need to know more about our ELA SCOS and what it contains. I was surprised by some of the answers.

I feel that the standards are better aligned within the grade level and across the various grade levels. The top two changes for me will be working on writing more and making sure that all parts of the written piece are included. The second one will be more emphasis on transitional words being used within their writing. I do not have any questions at this time.

 

We have PLCs in place at our school and these are helpful when planning with our grade level or other grade levels. They ensure that everything is being taught. I also like the parent guide and will be handing these out at the beginning of the year.  The videos and explanations in the Canvas Course has already helped me in understanding the changes.

 

After taking the myth and fact quiz I learned that cursive is back in the curriculum and I think that is great! I also liked that teachers had input in creating the standards. I thought that the curriculum was outlined in the standards, but now I understand that I can use any curriculum I want to teach the standards addressed. I also learned that Lexile is only one component to use when addressing text complexity. This quiz was very informative to me, and it helps me to understand my misconceptions. 

The revisions will provide me further information to understand the skills I need my students to learn. I can use the the standards to help me build students up to master a specific skill. I will need to do further study of the standards in order to completely understand needed materials and curriculum to teach. 

After reading all of the changes for 6-8th grade it seems like the only affect I will have in my classroom will be in regards to teaching skills when understand specific genres. I will not need to spend as much time specifically on poem components and figurative language, but can use this time to devote to understand vocabulary throughout all genres. 

Our district provided PD to help us understand the new standards and implement them. ISR is similar to guided reading that we already have in our classroom. In ISR students integrate the reading daily into instruction rather than SSR. ISR is how students read with purpose not what students read. Teachers must model this for the students in order for them to be successful. 

Myth or Fact Quiz Reflection

Taking the quiz allowed me to understand vocabulary used to describe and navigate the NCSCOS. I was confused on the wording of why the The North Carolina ELA Standard Course of Study does not outline standards and curriculum.  I now understand the curriculum is how you teach what you teach. 

The continuum guide will allow me to evaluate standards more deeply to be able to deliver specific instruction. It will also clarify areas I’m not as strong in by giving examples of how to incorporate appropriate curriculum matching the standard. 

The new perspective I have on these revisions are that the standards allow for more flexibility in what curriculum, resources, and literature I choose to use in standard instruction. 

This PD Self-Study is helping us dig deeper into the standards and what is expected of us in the classroom.  We will plan to use guided reading to support ISR with in our daily ELA rotations. Guided reading will serve as an avenue to provide direct instruction for children at specific levels and give opportunity to model how to read with purpose. The children will practice in independant stations.