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Clip: Educational Leadership:Feedback for Learning:Seven Keys to Effective Feedback. 5 Tools to Help Students Learn How to Learn. Helping students learn how to learn: That’s what most educators strive for, and that’s the goal of inquiry learning. That skill transfers to other academic subject areas and even to the workplace where employers have consistently said that they want creative, innovative and adaptive thinkers. Inquiry learning is an integrated approach that includes kinds of learning: content, literacy, information literacy, learning how to learn, and social or collaborative skills. Students think about the choices they make throughout the process and the way they feel as they learn.

Those observations are as important as the content they learn or the projects they create. “We want students thinking about their thinking,” said Leslie Maniotes a teacher effectiveness coach in the Denver Public Schools and one of the authors of Guided Inquiry: Learning in the 21st Century. “When they are able to see where they came from and where they got to it is very powerful for them.” Response: Student Engagement "Requires A Conversation" - Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo.

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Bill Page: A Great Model Of Differentiation. Looking for motivated kids, individualized learning, success, and differentiation? Check out the extra-curricular activities As long as teachers rely on grouping, single assignments for the whole class, and control of the step-by-step learning procedures through assignments, worksheets, grading and homework, students must necessarily be treated as groups; thereby every student treated pretty much alike according to the needs of the group… regardless of his or her differences in interests, abilities and needs.

For teachers, the only alternative to grouping is individualizing; conversely, the only alternative to individualizing is grouping. Short of complete one-on-one individualizing, teachers have only the choice of what size group or what grouping criteria. Learning Is Constructed By Each Student Teachers know that learning is a personal, individual experience; that it is constructed within the unique perceptions and experiences of each student. Teaching Individuals In A Group. 9 Pointers for Quick Differentiation of Instruction. 9 Pointers for Quick Differentiation of Instruction By Alison Whiteley closeAuthor: Alison Whiteley Name: Alison WhiteleySite: Alison Whiteley is a K-6 Elementary Special Education Resource Teacher in a small urban school outside Denver Colorado. She is the author of Toad-ally Exceptional Learners Blog at Her blog has many timely articles from RTI to reading and math for parents and general education teacher alike to support all learners.See Authors Posts (1)Quick Differentiation This is something quick to help with differentiation on the fly as you’re planning your lessons, kind of a cheat sheet.

I find it helpful when thinking about how to reach small pockets of like needs in a classroom. Differentiation is designing and implementing curriculum, instructional strategies, and assessments that are responsive to the needs, background, interests, and abilities of students. 1. Examples: Close Reading of Complex Texts by Heather Clayton Kwit. Heather Clayton Kwit is the author of Making the Common Core Come Alive! And is the principal of Mendon Center Elementary School in Pittsford Central School District, New York. She is also a co-author ofCreating a Culture for Learningpublished by Just ASK.

Future Issues ofMaking the Common Core Come Alive! Uplifting Conversation: Promoting Meaningful DiscourseThinking Outside of the Box: Fostering CreativityAnd the Winds Changed Direction: Using Data to Inform PracticeCatch a Falling Star: Designing Quality InterventionsMirror, Mirror, On the Wall: Promoting Reflection “Tell me what you read and I'll tell you who you are” is true enough,but I'd know you better if you told me what you reread. - Francois Muriac The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts expect students “to read increasingly complex texts with growing independence in order to reach college and career readiness.”

Genre is another important focus of text selection with the Common Core. What is Close Reading? Applying Bloom's Taxonomy in the Classroom - an Infographic. Robert Marzano on Four Levels of Classroom Questioning. Robert Marzano on Four Levels of Classroom Questioning (Originally titled “Asking Questions – At Four Different Levels”) In this Educational Leadership article, author/researcher Robert Marzano says there are four ways to question students.

“Planning a lesson that uses all four of these levels can transform classroom questions into analytic tasks that require students to think at increasingly complex levels,” he says. • Level 1: Details – Recalling or recognizing specific information – for example, “Describe some important features of the Rocky Mountains.” • Level 2: Characteristics – Describing, comparing, or contrasting the qualities of a category – for example, “What are some differences between older mountain ranges like the Rocky Mountains and newer mountain ranges like the Olympic Mountains in Washington State?” “Asking Questions – At Four Different Levels” by Robert Marzano in Educational Leadership, February 2013 (Vol. 70, #5, p. 76-77), www.ascd.org From the Marshall Memo #473. Activity Speaks Louder Than Words: Improving Student Engagement by KENDELL DORSEY. Think about the level of cognitive engagement that occurs with each activity in this list: Watching/listeningNotetakingNotemakingDiscussingSummarizing The learning style of your students plays a key role with things like "watching/listening.

" For example, I realize as I get older that I am definitely a visual learner. I often can't remember a name until I see it in print. Teacher-led instruction and discussion have a place in the classroom. Here's a personal example of how learning can benefit from this cognitive demand. Imagine the power of this exchange of ideas with students in your classroom. The Down Side of Down Time As teachers, we lead classrooms filled with learners of all styles. The rule of thumb is simple. Here are some instances where down time happens: The teacher is asking specific "popcorn" type questions of one student at a time in a whole-group setting -- what are the other students doing? Strategies for Engagement Making It Stick. 4 Immediate Steps Teachers Can Take to Re-engage the Dis-engaged Student from The 21st Century Principal by J. Robinson.

{12 Days: Tool 11} Infographic: Anchored Word Learning Strategy. Anchored Word Learning: A Read Aloud Strategy Anchored Word Learning, by Isabel Beck, is one of my favorite strategies for integrated word learning. The Anchored Word Learning strategy uses the power of read alouds to introduce targeted words within context. Tradebooks and picture books provide excellent sources of higher-level, sophisticated words. Beck suggests selecting three, Tier Two words each time you read aloud. Tier Two words are high-utility, cross content words. Download today’s tool by clicking on the tag below the infographic. Like this post? Please read our Reblogging and Reposting Policies here before reblogging or reposting.

Have you found these posts helpful in supporting your literacy efforts? The following two tabs change content below. Kimberly Kimberly is an educational consultant who works with district leaders to improve instructional effectiveness and student learning. 21 Simple Ideas To Improve Student Motivation - 21 Simple Ideas To Improve Student Motivation by TeachThought Staff The best lessons, books, and materials in the world won’t get students excited about learning and willing to work hard if they’re not motivated. Motivation, both intrinsic and extrinsic, is a key factor in the success of students at all stages of their education, and teachers can play a pivotal role in providing and encouraging that motivation in their students. Of course that’s much easier said than done, as all students are motivated differently and it takes time and a lot of effort to learn to get a classroom full of kids enthusiastic about learning, working hard, and pushing themselves to excel.

Even the most well-intentioned and educated teachers sometimes lack the skills to keep kids on track, so whether you’re a new teacher or an experienced one, try using these methods to motivate your students and to encourage them to live up to their true potential. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. Helping Students Set Goals and Find Success. Photo credit: iStockPhoto The idea of New Year's Resolutions is very appealing but their success rate is low. Cognitive psychologists know why: Resolutions tend to be too big (like losing 20 pounds), too vague (like getting more sleep), very hard to control (like having less stress), or something the person is ambivalent about (like becoming a healthier eater). When students come back for the second half of the school year, we often want them to "turn over a new leaf," or address particular difficulties they faced in the prior weeks.

Focus on Short-Term Success So let's travel back to my blog in August and revisit the idea of the End-of-Year Legacy. But let's do it in a way that is likely to generate some short-term success. This activity is best done in home room/advisory/morning meetings, or some time other than a particular academic class, because you want the students to be able to select the area of their focus. Is It Worth It? Why is this worth the trouble? W&M School of Education - Frontloading Vocabulary in Core Content Classes: Instructional Strategies.

Scenario: Your students begin their cultural study of ancient Sumerians. You have provided a reader's guide for individual completion by the end of the class period in preparation for a whole-group discussion the following day. You anticipate a lively discussion as you construct questions requiring critical thinking skills and application of knowledge. Thus far, your students have given no indication that confusion exists. The following day you ask the first question. Only a few students raise their hands in response. By the end of the second question, rather than more raised hands, you view a sea of wide-eyed, closed-mouthed faces. Quickly rethinking, you ask a scaffolded question to stimulate the discussion. What do you do? Solution: Frontloading or preteaching vocabulary is a powerful before-reading instructional strategy to facilitate comprehension of a passage.

Identifying Problematic Vocabulary Instructional Strategies to Frontload Vocabulary The Frayer Model Choiceboards 1. Top 10 Characteristics Of Effective Vocabulary Instruction. By Kimberly Tyson, Ph. D. of learningunlimitedllc.com We know that there is a strong relationship between vocabulary and reading comprehension. Systematic vocabulary instruction is an integral part of a K-12 comprehensive literacy framework for instruction. I consider it a privilege to have supported many teachers, coaches, & administrators in building a community that values word learning across classrooms and content areas. Common characteristics of effective vocabulary instruction have been documented in numerous professional journals and books. Effective vocabulary instruction across grade levels and content areas is key. As part of 12 Days: 12 Tools I have shared 4 templates and tools for vocabulary.

Tool 1: Top Tips for Words WallsTool 2: Concept CirclesTool 5: Marzano’s 6-Step Vocabulary ProcessTool 7: Alphaboxes Graphic Organizer Top 10 Characteristics of Effective Vocabulary Instruction You can put this infographic to use tomorrow; several immediate uses come to mind. 1. 2. 3. 4. 30 Surprising (And Controversial) Ways Students Learn. Have you checked your assumptions about student learning at the door? People in general, hold onto beliefs that are shaped by early experiences, the media, and faulty influences. The following list is a compilation of research that may surprise you. Video games, e-books, playtime, and music are all a part of an educator’s repertoire. Read on, and be prepared to put your traditional beliefs aside as science points to innovative methods that indicate future success. 1. Playing scary and violent video games help children master their fears in real life.

Until recently, studies done with regards to children and video games usually centered on the negative impacts and consequences of prolonged use. She recognized several social motivations for playing video games including competition, a reason to hang out and casually converse with friends, and teaching peers how to play a game. 2. 3. 4. Patrick S. 5. Kids who garden show a better ability to concentrate. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Kids Speak Out on Student Engagement. A while back, I was asked, "What engages students? " Sure, I could respond, sharing anecdotes about what I believed to be engaging, but I thought it would be so much better to lob that question to my own eighth graders. The responses I received from all 220 of them seemed to fall under 10 categories, representing reoccuring themes that appeared again and again. So, from the mouths of babes, here are my students' answers to the question: "What engages students?

" 1. Working with their peers "Middle-school students are growing learners who require and want interaction with other people to fully attain their potential. " "Teens find it most interesting and exciting when there is a little bit of talking involved. 2. "I believe that when students participate in "learning by doing" it helps them focus more. "We have entered a digital age of video, Facebook, Twitter, etc., and they [have] become more of a daily thing for teens and students. 3. "I believe that it all boils down to relationships. 4. Three Steps for Improving Teacher Questions. According to Robert Marzano's book, Classroom Instruction that Works, 80 percent of what is considered instruction involves asking questions.

It makes sense then, that if we want to improve our effectiveness at teaching, of course we would start by improving our questions. I have thought a lot about this topic and I would like to share three specific actions that we can take to improve our questions. To begin with, we need to get students talking rather than the teacher talking. Second, prepare the questions when you plan the lesson. And third, scaffold the questions. Step One The first action for improvement in reality is not an action, but a shift in thinking about our own concept of teaching. Step Two The next move is to prepare the questions you want to ask as an integral part of the lesson.

Certainly students cannot answer questions or discuss something of which they know nothing. Step Three. 12 Amazing Ways to Teach During the Crazy Days of Christmas. Smart Classroom Management. Oral Formative Feedback – Top Ten Strategies. Spice Up Your Class Routine. From Management to Engagement. I Let Them Fail. Are textbooks an obstacle to learning? SmartBlogs.

Teachers' Expectations Can Influence How Students Perform : Shots - Health Blog. Response: Using 'Brain-Based Learning' in the Classroom - Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo. Reading (and Scaffolding) Expository Texts. Study finds homework has limited value. Building a Positive, Trusting Classroom Environment. Why Speaking Softly Is An Effective Classroom Management Strategy. Ten Takeaway Tips for Teaching Critical Thinking. How Can We Make Middle School Less Awful? We Need a Pause for Reflection. Classroom Techniques: Formative Assessment Idea Number Four.

How Do We Define and Measure “Deeper Learning”?