Common Core State Standards Workshop at Vinalhaven School, June 16-19, 2013

Fifteen teachers of the Vinalhaven School, Pre-K to 12 including the principal met for a Common Core Workshop from June 16-19.

The staff looked at the instructional changes necessary for their students to succeed as citizens in the 21st Century.

Special Education Director, Dorothy Marecaux, met with the team during the afternoon and shared information on RTI and the special education process in Vinalhaven.

The Common Core focuses on success for all children.  In order to achieve this goal, the entire staff needs to collaborate and work together.  The teachers and administration began working on creating a structure to support this process - beginning implementation in the fall.

During the three days the team focused on three instructional changes:

1. Increased reading of informational texts,
2. Providing evidence when answering (either written or spoken) questions based on texts,
3. Consistent use of appropriately complex texts.

Teachers broke into fluid groups over the three days in order to plan vertically as well as by grade level.  

 Kudos to all staff members for their hard work!!!

The students at Vinalhaven School will be well prepared for success in the 21st century thanks to their hard work and commitment.

The Common Core State Standards are requiring students give evidence and explain their answers - spoken and written. Here is a good article to give perspective on the benefits of this process. Students will be assessed on this process on the CCSS assessments - coutesy of ASCD SmartBrief.

Why teachers should ask students to explain their answers
Teachers can help students learn by asking them to explain their work -- rather than memorize and repeat answers -- researchers have found. "We know generating explanations leads to better educational outcomes generally. When children explain events, they learn more than when just getting feedback about the accuracy of their predictions," said Cristine H. Legare, an assistant psychology professor and researcher at the University of Texas at Austin. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (6/5)

Small Groups has been a topic of discussion throughout the year. Here are several articles on the topic from Maine's Choice Literacy. They will help clarify our thoughts. Enjoy:}

Here are three articles from the Choice Literacy archives with different perspectives on grouping.

 

 

Franki Sibberson considers alternatives to guided groups in the intermediate grades:

 

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/articles-detail-view.php?id=434

 

Making the Most of Small Groups with Jennifer Serravallo is a podcast featuring the author of Teaching Reading in Small Groups:

 

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/articles-detail-view.php?id=1220

 

Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan provide guidance for Planning Small Groups to Teach Phonetic Skills:

 

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/articles-detail-view.php?id=999

 

3 Ways to Improve Reading Comprehension courtesy of ASCD SmartBrief

Students need to learn how to digest what they read rather than simply scan text for the answer to a question, science educator Fred Ende writes in this blog post. Ende notes many exams seek responses that allow students to "scavenge" texts, and he proposes three ideas -- including rewording questions -- to help teachers ensure students gain a deeper understanding of reading material. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Education (5/9)

Here is a great resource on writing workshop:} Choice Literacy is Maine based and is free online. Enjoy!!

[For sneak peeks at our upcoming features, quotes and extra links,  follow Choice Literacy on Twitter: @ChoiceLiteracy or Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/ChoiceLiteracy or Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/choiceliteracy/]

 

 

In this feature from the Choice Literacy archives, Aimee Buckner considers the balance of Writers, Choice, and Independence in her writing workshop:

 

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/articles-detail-view.php?id=898

 

Making the Home-School Connections - courtesy of Choice Literacy

Here are some great articles on making the home-school connection.  Enjoy:}

Here are two articles from the Choice Literacy Archives to help build the home/school connection.

Heather Rader and Jennifer Taft share tips for better communication with families in Good News: Your Teacher Is Calling:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/articles-detail-view.php?id=1380

Ruth Shagoury explains how dichos (words of wisdom passed down in families) can bring home cultures and values into classrooms:

http://www.choiceliteracy.com/articles-detail-view.php?id=65

Ashley Rice has created a Pinterest Board with 60 different Family Literacy Night suggestions:

http://pinterest.com/amr161/literacy-night-ideas/

Wendy Lawrence's blog, The Family That Reads Together, is a wonderful source of warm, funny, and wise book reviews from a parent's perspective:

http://thefamilythatreadstogether.com/ 

During my last visit, the students displayed independence and learning in the centers the teachers have created! Obviously, students have learned to stay focused and on task. Bravo everyone!!

 Mrs. D demonstrating the use of the spelling center for her students.

 Mrs. D. demonstrates use of the homophone center and students follow up with independent use.

 Example of poetry collage in response to the weekly poem in grade 5 - awesome Mrs. P and students.

 Fifth grade students work in collaborative groups - responding to a slide presentation preparing students for making predictions and building prior knowledge before they read.

 Mrs. P demonstrates the slides for the presentation!

Mrs. B. reviews the features of chapter books as this group moves into reading chapter books in preparation for literature circles.

Students work at the Scrambled Sentence center as Mrs. B works with a guided reading group.

 Mrs. O meets with her students in guided reading format.  They are reading a non-fiction book and loving it!  Other students work independently around the room at centers.

 Student exemplars are displayed around the room for student reference.

 Centers are posted on the board so students know their schedule.  Mrs. O reviews the morning schedule before they begin.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS FOR THEIR HARD WORK.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO CHERIE DOUGHTY FOR ALL OF HER WORK ON THE BOOK ROOM.  SHE HAS SPENT MANY HOURS OF HER OWN TIME WORKING DILIGENTLY AND QUIETLY TO COMPLETE THIS IMMENSE PROJECT.  THANK YOU ALL.