So I finally found out how to work this new fangled technology. Our discussion tonight focused on the following topics:
- Nontraditional texts - We mentioned a lot about the Titanic, poetry, fiction, etc. and how it was used in the classroom.
- Meaningful and memorable contexts - There was a small discussion about how to get students engaged, by bridging students lives and our content.
- Strategies - We found some similarities between our book club and our text book. There was also some connection to our CPD's.
- BUILDING BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE!!! (WOO HOO)
- The strategies that were in the first chapter received some cool and warm feedback from the group. We disliked some because they didn't seem to work well in a high school classroom setting.
- K/W/L Chart - love it or hate it? Emily also mentioned how she thought of Jen's (me!) microteaching and whether it would've worked as well in a real classroom instead of a small group of nervous TCH students.
- Are there boundaries of creativity? Here's the fun part, we brought back the Titanic topic! There was some good questions about whether we would really spend that much time on this unit, how we could implement such an activity in a smaller/ more compact unit, and also whether smaller units deserve some of the "fun stuff" also.
The Titanic was Alyx V. approved. Have a wonderful Spring Break ladies! That is all. ;)
I hope this is in the correct spot.
ReplyDeleteIn our readings, I saw a lot of similarities to other content that we have already seen in some of our other readings. For example the readings talk a lot about scaffolding student’s lives to our content. I find that this is increasingly becoming a key component for content literacy. I also find that it is easier said than done which raised a question for me… are any teachers doing this really (I mean REALLY) connecting students lives to the material. I don’t know if I have seen it yet and I don’t know if I am confident enough to relate to all students yet. For example the KWL chart. I actually got to experience my CPD Mentor teacher use it the other day. I would have to say that I strongly dislike the KWL chart but I don’t hate it. I could see how the chart promotes students to assess what they know and then anticipate what they want to know, but I don’t know if that is enough for understanding content or promoting literacy.
When thinking about the Titanic topic, I do believe that it was a great and interesting way to study immigration. However; I don’t know if I would have spent that much time on the topic. I believe that immigration is an important topic especially what immigration means for us Americans but as teachers we are pressed for time and have to find ways to be creative but we also have to find ways to confidently move on to the next topic and be creative there as well.
See you next time ladies! Sorry I was late : /….p.s. if you click on the fish tank it makes food and they eat it! ( I hope you guys didn’t already know that)