1) The school district that I work in recognizes the fact that in order to orchestra opportunities, teachers need time to work together. In-services and early release days are planned around what teachers feel is important. For example, last year our school trained all teachers, not just the English teachers, with the 6th Traits writing process. This year we continue to evaluate its use and language as well as our new goal, developing critical higher level thinking in our content areas. Having the time to meet in departments allows teacher to talk about ideas and suggestions to make sure students’ needs are being meet.
2&3) I really like the ideas presented in this chapter. One idea for a unit that I use is a Tic-Tac-Toe wksheet. Just like the regular board you can make the center square a free choice. Free space or an assignment you want everyone to do. From there the students have a choice how they are going to draw their line. In the other boxes can be an assortment of choices around the theme of the unit. After reading this chapter I would like to develop an end of the unit choice sheet for Greece. My only complaint of an assignment like this is when it gets used too much or there is no variety. For example, my son is in a middle school where he has the same English teacher for the three years. Every week he is given a spelling contract in which he needs to get 100 points. There are 25 point choices, 50 point choices and 75 point choices. Kids can pick any combination and can’t repeat any until all choices have been done. My complaint is it has been the same choices for a year and a half now. My son just finds the choices boring and wishes there were some new choices.
spelling is a talent..I personally think it's a waste of time..have them write and learn to edit...they don't need to be good spellers, they need to be great editors...
1) In the classrooms I am in I do not see teachers giving students many choices in their education style and assignments. I do see a lot of centers that every student must rotate through during the week. The classes do provide choices for free time but not for homework or instruction. I liked the various schedules that the author offered as well as the detailed lesson plans for ideas. Since I am not a classroom teacher I too am guilty of not offering choices to the degree the chapter discussed.
2&3) As I stated in the previous chapter, I do allow my students to pick their homework topics from a field of 2 or 3. I feel I am limited to my degree of "choice" since I am a special educator and the children come to me for very specific reasons. I do try and give my students some options during a treatment session but they are usually a variety of tasks that I have previously chosen to work on specific skills. They just have the freedom to pick which they would like to do and in what order these tasks will be completed. I guess I am struggling with how to incorporate more choices while still following state standards and IEPs.
Hi Kristin...Just based on your responses to the book I feel you have a handle on what the kids you see really need...and any choices you give will I'm sure cover state standards...
4 comments:
1) The school district that I work in recognizes the fact that in order to orchestra opportunities, teachers need time to work together. In-services and early release days are planned around what teachers feel is important. For example, last year our school trained all teachers, not just the English teachers, with the 6th Traits writing process. This year we continue to evaluate its use and language as well as our new goal, developing critical higher level thinking in our content areas. Having the time to meet in departments allows teacher to talk about ideas and suggestions to make sure students’ needs are being meet.
2&3) I really like the ideas presented in this chapter. One idea for a unit that I use is a Tic-Tac-Toe wksheet. Just like the regular board you can make the center square a free choice. Free space or an assignment you want everyone to do. From there the students have a choice how they are going to draw their line. In the other boxes can be an assortment of choices around the theme of the unit. After reading this chapter I would like to develop an end of the unit choice sheet for Greece. My only complaint of an assignment like this is when it gets used too much or there is no variety. For example, my son is in a middle school where he has the same English teacher for the three years. Every week he is given a spelling contract in which he needs to get 100 points. There are 25 point choices, 50 point choices and 75 point choices. Kids can pick any combination and can’t repeat any until all choices have been done. My complaint is it has been the same choices for a year and a half now. My son just finds the choices boring and wishes there were some new choices.
spelling is a talent..I personally think it's a waste of time..have them write and learn to edit...they don't need to be good spellers, they need to be great editors...
1) In the classrooms I am in I do not see teachers giving students many choices in their education style and assignments. I do see a lot of centers that every student must rotate through during the week. The classes do provide choices for free time but not for homework or instruction. I liked the various schedules that the author offered as well as the detailed lesson plans for ideas. Since I am not a classroom teacher I too am guilty of not offering choices to the degree the chapter discussed.
2&3) As I stated in the previous chapter, I do allow my students to pick their homework topics from a field of 2 or 3. I feel I am limited to my degree of "choice" since I am a special educator and the children come to me for very specific reasons. I do try and give my students some options during a treatment session but they are usually a variety of tasks that I have previously chosen to work on specific skills. They just have the freedom to pick which they would like to do and in what order these tasks will be completed. I guess I am struggling with how to incorporate more choices while still following state standards and IEPs.
Hi Kristin...Just based on your responses to the book I feel you have a handle on what the kids you see really need...and any choices you give will I'm sure cover state standards...
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