I'm very happy to finally be a part of the #cyberPD community! Last year, I actually joined the community but things got in the way and I was unable to really participate. This year, I decided, would be different. To start with, I actually got to post on our #cyberPD group my "stack" of books to read this summer. Two of the books are for professional development (literacy & tech), one of the many fiction titles that I want to read, and one to lead me as I do the Whole 30 again.
Of course, I didn't stop there. I took time to read the chapters for this week but I had to get out of the house. I'm not sure if this happens to other people, but when I'm home it is very easy for me to just grab the remote and leave the books to the side. Since I'm in Savannah, GA visiting my brother, I decided to combine my learning with exploring. So... I've been visiting some great coffee shops (Foxy Loxy, Savannah Coffee Roasters, etc.) while I read and enjoy a delicious cup of their joe. Nurturing both my mind and my soul... (Yes, my coffee reaches my soul. :) )
Ok... now to the content. Honestly, I begun the chapter spinning wheels... It was a bit difficult to follow some of the strategies explained, mostly because I've been out of the classroom for about eight years now. However, I kept asking myself about how I could apply these ideas to my role as a librarian.
I quickly came to realize that the knowledge being imparted by the authors is truly applicable to all teaching settings. On chapter one I came across the following line:
This is true in a "regular" classroom and in my library. When I am teaching the students about research and the learning breaks down, I need to have some sort of teaching tools that will enable my students to grasp the learning. Additionally, because I do my lessons in collaboration with the teachers, I have an opportunity to share these strategies with my teaching peers. This chapter continues to give me specific reasons to make sure my teaching tools are "stickier" and they actually become criteria for me to follow as I plan my teaching. Every one of my lessons needs to have the following criteria:
This past year, I was able to incorporate a few of them during my teaching and I believe that the the visual was helpful. For example, for a fiction/non-fiction lesson, I recreated one that I found on Pinterest like this one:
I utilized the same one with all the Kinder classes, but I am not sure it it was actually very helpful because it wasn't one that was created organically with each class and it wasn't one that they would be able to reference back in their classrooms. I
n this week's #cyberPD tweetchat I mentioned the possibility of having these tools be available in both analog and digital format. So, with the collaboration of other great teachers from this #cyberPD group I decided that I could have an analog one that would be displayed at the library. Additionally, I would be creating a digital one with the students so that they could be involved in the process. This digital teaching chart would then be shared electronically with the classroom teacher so that they could be accessed in the classroom by the students.
Back in April, I had the opportunity to attend the AAABE Adelante 16 conference in Austin. There I found some great examples of several teaching tools that can be utilized to teach different reading and writing elements. A couple of examples, are below.
The bonus chapter was instrumental in teaching ME the process in developing my own teaching tools and ensuring that my students are well equipped to succeed. To aid me in that process, I will be purchasing the following two titles to add to our school professional library.
I also want to be an advocate at my campus to get additional funding this coming school year to be able to purchase titles like:
Good news! Today, I finally finished this blog post.. AND I finished reading the book Gilead!
Of course, I didn't stop there. I took time to read the chapters for this week but I had to get out of the house. I'm not sure if this happens to other people, but when I'm home it is very easy for me to just grab the remote and leave the books to the side. Since I'm in Savannah, GA visiting my brother, I decided to combine my learning with exploring. So... I've been visiting some great coffee shops (Foxy Loxy, Savannah Coffee Roasters, etc.) while I read and enjoy a delicious cup of their joe. Nurturing both my mind and my soul... (Yes, my coffee reaches my soul. :) )
Ok... now to the content. Honestly, I begun the chapter spinning wheels... It was a bit difficult to follow some of the strategies explained, mostly because I've been out of the classroom for about eight years now. However, I kept asking myself about how I could apply these ideas to my role as a librarian.
I quickly came to realize that the knowledge being imparted by the authors is truly applicable to all teaching settings. On chapter one I came across the following line:
"True learning happens when students get the instruction that fits their needs, have the agency and motivation to work hard, and remember and recycle what they've learned." (Roberts, K. & Roberts, M.B., pg. 2)
This is true in a "regular" classroom and in my library. When I am teaching the students about research and the learning breaks down, I need to have some sort of teaching tools that will enable my students to grasp the learning. Additionally, because I do my lessons in collaboration with the teachers, I have an opportunity to share these strategies with my teaching peers. This chapter continues to give me specific reasons to make sure my teaching tools are "stickier" and they actually become criteria for me to follow as I plan my teaching. Every one of my lessons needs to have the following criteria:
- Provide a visual - to provide students a clear picture and help them understand and remember the information provided.
- Make the abstract concrete - enabling students to understand concepts that are difficult.
- Encourage repeated practice - as the famous idiom says, "practice makes perfect".
This past year, I was able to incorporate a few of them during my teaching and I believe that the the visual was helpful. For example, for a fiction/non-fiction lesson, I recreated one that I found on Pinterest like this one:
n this week's #cyberPD tweetchat I mentioned the possibility of having these tools be available in both analog and digital format. So, with the collaboration of other great teachers from this #cyberPD group I decided that I could have an analog one that would be displayed at the library. Additionally, I would be creating a digital one with the students so that they could be involved in the process. This digital teaching chart would then be shared electronically with the classroom teacher so that they could be accessed in the classroom by the students.
Back in April, I had the opportunity to attend the AAABE Adelante 16 conference in Austin. There I found some great examples of several teaching tools that can be utilized to teach different reading and writing elements. A couple of examples, are below.
The bonus chapter was instrumental in teaching ME the process in developing my own teaching tools and ensuring that my students are well equipped to succeed. To aid me in that process, I will be purchasing the following two titles to add to our school professional library.
I also want to be an advocate at my campus to get additional funding this coming school year to be able to purchase titles like:
- Mosaic of Thought
- Strategies that Work
- The Art of Teaching Reading
- The Art of Teaching Writing
- The Reading Strategies Book
- etc.
Good news! Today, I finally finished this blog post.. AND I finished reading the book Gilead!
I found it difficult to create and manage charts for multiple classes. I like the idea of digital and analog versions, although I'm glad that with only one class that will not be so difficult this year. I hope you are able to secure funding for the great resources you listed!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading Karen! :) Let's keep our fingers crossed.
DeleteSo glad you are able to participate this year and have found a great approach to motivate! (I am the opposite... I can put down the remote, but if I go to a cafe, I'll people watch... go figure!)
ReplyDeleteI love how you working hard to find ways to support students and teachers, and think you could come up with some amazing charts for research skills (which I would LOVE to see!) Perhaps students could make their own bookmarks to personalize what you are presenting on your teaching charts?
Hey Heidi, thanks for reading! :) I will be looking working on some of these charts specifically for research. Perhaps I can post some later in the #cyberPD group. I think you are right about the book marks. It would certainly be a way for them to take their learning back to their classrooms. Thanks for the feedback. :)
DeleteYou've really brought a lot of thinking together here. I appreciated the images you added to make your points concrete (LOL...that's a DIY idea). So much of this book - and the reflections I'm reading - are about making learning concrete for students. Smarter Charts is surely a great complement to this book.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, glad you are joining our group this year and that it has brought you back to your blog space. YAY! Finally, how did I miss meeting you officially at NerdCamp? We should have had a #cyberPD meet-up. I need to remember that for next year!!!
Thank you for your comments Cathy! I appreciate the encouraging words but more than that, the opportunity you've created by guiding us in this book study. :) I AM sorry I didn't get to meet you at nErDcampMI. Definitely will meet next year!
ReplyDelete