After reading Marzano's chapter entitled Instructional Strategies from his book What Works in Schools: Translating Research into Action, we had an assignment to choose 3-5 strategies to implement into our teaching. Below are 3 instructional strategies that I chose to implement :
1. Setting objectives
What I did:
Before beginning a new unit of study or a new topic/concept I was strategic in my explanation on why we were going to be learning what we were learning. As a class we discussed and posted what we would be learning and why. We made up a chart that we posted in our room and we were able to refer back to it often. After awhile, the students were referring back to it on their own when
Why I felt the need to implement it:
I think that it is important for the children to know why we need to learn. I think that by setting objectives and talking about them first, it gives the students a goal or a purpose to learn. Furthermore, by setting objectives I think that it helps them make connections to their own lives.
How it went:
It was nice to have a "big idea" in mind throughout the lessons and I think that the children were able to clearly see an end goal (or objective) and make personal connections throughout the unit.
Successes/Challenges:
We were able to have a big idea the whole time (success).
We referred back to it often (success).
It would be difficult to do this for everything that we are learning (challenge).
2. Identifying Similarities & Differences (through Graphic Organizers)
What I did:
While reading several versions of the classic tale The Gingerbread Boy, we created a Venn Diagram comparing the stories. We used a graphic organizer (which Marzano notes gives students a 22% academic gain) to compare and contrast stories (which Marzano notes gives students a 45% academic gain.)
Why I felt the need to implement it:
According to Marzano, by identifying similarities and differences students can make a 45% gain in student achievement. I decided to do this through the use of a graphic organizer to help students see connections between stories.
How it went:
It was easier for the students to remember the characters in each story as well as making comparisons between the stories. They referred back to them when they were retelling the stories in pairs.
Successes/Challenges:
The students seemed to be able to make connections between the stories easier when we used a Venn Diagram.
3. Homework
What I did:
For kindergarten, there is not much homework assigned. Our grade level however, sends home a generic homework packet with the students each week targeting the kindergarten curriculum in general. To streamline the homework, I decided to make the homework packet reinforce the specific content that we had been working at in school during each week.
Why I felt the need to implement it:
After reading Marzano's chapter, it prompted me to take a closer look at homework. According to Marzano, by assigning homework students can make a 28% gain in academics. That was a huge number compared to all of the other suggested strategies.
How it went:
I figure out what I was going to teach each week and compiled a packet of activities/games/worksheets that corresponded with the content that I was planning on teaching. I did not take any specific record keeping, but I did notice that their work at school was increasing in quality and content.
Successes/Challenges:
Since I haven't been strict on homework coming back, I had a difficult time with enough students returning the packets. I think that if I were to do this next year, I would make my intentions clear that I wanted the packet to be returned so I could see what families were actually doing the homework.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Technology Implementation Refelction
One of our assignments for class this last semester was to integrate more technology into our teaching. I choose to utilize the SMART Board and the iPad during our Literacy Work Station time.
SMART Board~
Last spring I bought some interactive Cd's from Lakshore that help students practice specific kindergarten skills. The SMART Board was a station that the kids could choose to work at with a partner or independently. This worked well because I have been modeling how to use our classroom "baby" all year. Like I stated in an earlier post, the kids were very on-task and engaged, not to mention motivated to use the SMART Board. I think that they felt a sense of responsibility and ownership for their learning while at the SMART Board Station. I also enjoyed this time because I could easily monitor their work and could see the learning that was taking place. Furthermore, I was still able to work with my small groups in the back of the room and there was little to no interruptions of my small group time from the children working at the SMART Board Station.
iPads~
During this time, I also utilized my teacher iPad. Originally, I wanted to use both of my iPads (my personal one and my teacher one) but since I was still collecting data on my personal iPad for my AR project, I only made one available to my students and they had to use it with a partner. This worked well as I was able to teach the kids what games were available. They were also very on-task and engaged while using the iPad. I think that by making them share not only taught them how to share, but it also taught them how to problem solve. When surveyed, the students were most excited to use the iPad during station time.
SMART Board~
Last spring I bought some interactive Cd's from Lakshore that help students practice specific kindergarten skills. The SMART Board was a station that the kids could choose to work at with a partner or independently. This worked well because I have been modeling how to use our classroom "baby" all year. Like I stated in an earlier post, the kids were very on-task and engaged, not to mention motivated to use the SMART Board. I think that they felt a sense of responsibility and ownership for their learning while at the SMART Board Station. I also enjoyed this time because I could easily monitor their work and could see the learning that was taking place. Furthermore, I was still able to work with my small groups in the back of the room and there was little to no interruptions of my small group time from the children working at the SMART Board Station.
iPads~
During this time, I also utilized my teacher iPad. Originally, I wanted to use both of my iPads (my personal one and my teacher one) but since I was still collecting data on my personal iPad for my AR project, I only made one available to my students and they had to use it with a partner. This worked well as I was able to teach the kids what games were available. They were also very on-task and engaged while using the iPad. I think that by making them share not only taught them how to share, but it also taught them how to problem solve. When surveyed, the students were most excited to use the iPad during station time.
Friday, December 13, 2013
December "Glow & Grow"
Glow:
Classroom community! The particular group of kids that I have this year are AMAZING!!! Not quite sure if it is because I just got lucky or if it is because of different strategies that I've implemented this year. Either way, it's awesome! This past summer I attended a 3 credit course in St. Cloud on Community Building and if you ever get the opportunity to take the course you will be glad you did (the facilitators name is Jerry Sparby-he's SO, SO, SO GOOD!) Anyway, I came away with a great set of community building activities & games that have been added to my tool box! Click HERE and feel free to use them for your class!
Grow:
An area where I feel like I could grow in, is Guided Reading. I currently meet with my GR groups 2-3 times each week. We meet for about 15 minutes and I get to 3-4 groups each day. Lately, I have not been very motivated/excited for this time. Usually we do some type of word work then we read our leveled readers. I'd love for you to share ideas on how to make it more fun for the kids (and the teacher too!)
Tell me about your Guided Reading time?
When do you begin?
How long do your groups meet for?
How often do you meet with your groups?
How do you choose the text for them to read?
Classroom community! The particular group of kids that I have this year are AMAZING!!! Not quite sure if it is because I just got lucky or if it is because of different strategies that I've implemented this year. Either way, it's awesome! This past summer I attended a 3 credit course in St. Cloud on Community Building and if you ever get the opportunity to take the course you will be glad you did (the facilitators name is Jerry Sparby-he's SO, SO, SO GOOD!) Anyway, I came away with a great set of community building activities & games that have been added to my tool box! Click HERE and feel free to use them for your class!
Grow:
An area where I feel like I could grow in, is Guided Reading. I currently meet with my GR groups 2-3 times each week. We meet for about 15 minutes and I get to 3-4 groups each day. Lately, I have not been very motivated/excited for this time. Usually we do some type of word work then we read our leveled readers. I'd love for you to share ideas on how to make it more fun for the kids (and the teacher too!)
Tell me about your Guided Reading time?
When do you begin?
How long do your groups meet for?
How often do you meet with your groups?
How do you choose the text for them to read?
Monday, December 2, 2013
Technology Reflection
What have you noticed
about the students’ engagement?
Since integrating even more technology into my classroom, I have found that there is more student engagement and excitement. During Work Station time the children have the opportunity to use the SMART Board to work on various literacy skills while I am in the back pulling children for small group instruction. It has been working great. For the most part, the children have been very on-task and engaged while at that particular station.
How scary is it for you to implement something new?
This isn't something entirely new that I've implemented in my teaching. However, it is new to this group of children and they seem to enjoy the responsibility very much. The part that is the most scary is if something were to happen to the SMART Board, it is an expensive piece of technology and to give full control and responsibility to a 5 year old can be a bit scary. I think that I've done enough pre-teaching and modeling on how to treat the board like a "baby", so my students are very careful around our classroom "Baby".
What might you do differently next time to achieve better results?
The only thing that I would change is to implement this earlier in the year. This particular group of kids is very responsible and they are doing a good job with learning from this piece of technology. It surely frees up some of my time so that I am able to pull small groups more often and for longer periods of time.
Since integrating even more technology into my classroom, I have found that there is more student engagement and excitement. During Work Station time the children have the opportunity to use the SMART Board to work on various literacy skills while I am in the back pulling children for small group instruction. It has been working great. For the most part, the children have been very on-task and engaged while at that particular station.
How scary is it for you to implement something new?
This isn't something entirely new that I've implemented in my teaching. However, it is new to this group of children and they seem to enjoy the responsibility very much. The part that is the most scary is if something were to happen to the SMART Board, it is an expensive piece of technology and to give full control and responsibility to a 5 year old can be a bit scary. I think that I've done enough pre-teaching and modeling on how to treat the board like a "baby", so my students are very careful around our classroom "Baby".
What might you do differently next time to achieve better results?
The only thing that I would change is to implement this earlier in the year. This particular group of kids is very responsible and they are doing a good job with learning from this piece of technology. It surely frees up some of my time so that I am able to pull small groups more often and for longer periods of time.
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