If sports teams rounded their scores, would it be fair? Why or why not?
Ms. Tasca, 4th Grade STEM (ASD)
TGs are tough, but the impact of a terrific TG can be the difference between a student getting a massive “a-ha” the first five minutes of lesson versus weeks of tedious remedial instruction. Ms. Tasca’s TG hits all the right notes from generating relevance, applying that relevance to new concepts, to pushing students making conjectures as a way to develop deep understanding.
In addition to learning a new skill (how to round numbers), her students are given the opportunity to think deeply about the concept of rounding including its benefits and shortcomings. Great job, Lisa!
WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
Sheerin: As she was delivering a mini-lesson, one of Ms. Kaplan’s students raised his hand to ask a question. She shot him a gentle “how dare you interrupt our lesson” look and he immediately shifts right back into listening mode. Class expectations are meaningless unless we enforce them, and Ms. Kaplan’s classes will always enjoy a warm, focused environment because she makes it so.
Borelli: Room 205 was abuzz with learning. Ms. Ramos-Hughes tasked her students to design wind-up chariots and students twirled rubber bands around sticks attached to cups. It was a cycle of testing, observing, adjusting, and by withholding better materials and her expertise, her students learned far more by failing than if they had built the best chariots by following a manual.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
TG Feedback is here.
Please look over feedback for other teachers as well. TGs are definitely on the artisanal side of instruction, and the only way to get good at it is to see a ton of examples and then figuring out the style that most suits you. Instead of learning one TG feedback at a time, you might as well go for all 50 in one shot.
And please email me and/or your AP/coach should you have any questions. We are planning next Monday’s TG mini-workshop and feedback is very much welcomed.
HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST is back with bigger prizes and better judging systems. Once again this will be a contest for grade teams to go against one another, and start recruiting cluster teachers now. Winning teams will receive gift cards as well being the first recipients of a team printing station.
PERSONALIZED LEARNING BEGINS. Already finished with F+Ps, the K-2 will lead the charge in delivering Personalized Learning to every student who needs it. Clear benchmarks aligned to F+P letters inform us on the intensity level of the intervention, and some will get pull-out learning while others will have extended learning via 102+. Thank you to an amazing team of teachers who are stepping to do 6 sessions of AM instruction from now until the first week of November; you’re making a tremendous impact for the kids who need it most.
PERSONALIZED LEARNING FOR 3-8 ELA will begin in two weeks. We are now looking for teachers who can do two days per week for three weeks. You will NOT have to plan as curricular resources tightly aligned to the learning objective will be provided to you and the commitment is only for 6 mornings. Interested, inquire within.
Happy Columbus Day!
mrkobot.com 