Graphic Organizers

Some of my favorite graphic organizers were the following for the following reason. The first is interactive notes. I really like this style because I am wanting to teach older grades and this seems like one that older children could easily look at and determine the story through a simple list. The "Know, Understand, and Do" chart. I really like this just because too often the students know something, but they don't know what to do with that information afterwards. This helps students to make connections with the text. I also like that this has task specific, or generic rubrics so that children that just did it and that is an accomplishment for them while other students did an amazing job being specific get graded differently. I also really liked the contract example because it makes the students accountable for their own actions.

Tiering more specific

I really liked the different forms of tiering. Many of the types in the book were tiered except that they were the students' decision rather than the teacher.

Tiering

Wow! Through reading this, I realized that there are many different ways to differentiate. Some seem impossible to do while others make it seem doable, this is how tiering made me feel. It is something that, as teachers, we can prepare one lesson, but they can be on very different levels and help several children all at once. I really enjoyed reading this because it did not seem so overwhelming.

Chapters 5-6

I found this week's reading to be extremely interesting. Yesterday I was actually talking with my cousin who is a junior in the program about this exact thing. She was asking me how you determine what a child actually needs to retain knowledge, and what is busy work for both the student and the teacher. As the book discussed curriculum today is very demanding, so we need to find ways to engage the students. One thing that I really liked were the "I" statements under engaging. I thought these were interesting because it was never, "This is what teacher wants me to do." It was always, "This is what I want to do." That brings the curriculum to life for every student. I also really liked chapter 6. It talked about using the curriculum to fascilitate students' needs. In my opinion, this is what differentiation is all about, taking the state's core curriculum and modifying it to fit our classrooms.

Chapters 3 & 4

This week I found the reading very insightful and it helped me to feel less guilty about not being sure of how to differentiate. I liked at the beginning that it said that it is hard to differentiate and their are many valid reasons not to, but there is one over powering reason to differentate, it is the love of each individual student. I liked the 5 suggestions that they posed as teachers. My favorite was response of Reflection... In other words, watch the children and notice, "How can I teach you?"
I also really liked what it said about the environment that the students participate in, is it colorful or is it dark and scary looking? This is what the students' first impressions will be, so we need to make it a positive experience.

Student Surveys

By reading this section I realized how vital it is to let children know that how they view and perceive themselves is important. I think that how we go about doing this is what makes this a good idea or a flop. Some teachers write the surveys and then never take the time to read them. When a teacher does this, he or she may as well have spent the time with the students doing math work sheets because this is not of value to the teacher or the student. On the other hand, a teacher can use these as vital tools to see how the student sees him or herself and believes that other children see them as well. When done correctly these can make or break a classroom. A teacher can see if the student has high or low self esteem. This knowledge may seem irrelevant, but it can make or break a classroom and a teacher's knowledge of this can ensure that the student feels safe in the classroom.

Differentiation In the Classroom

During the reading, one thing that really stood out to me was why differentiation is important. Differentiation teaches us how to teach and treat each child as an individual rather than one giant child that learns and grows the same. Children all have the same basic needs, but in order to reach those needs, each child will need to be instructed in a different way. I also liked the five things they pointed out: 1- Children need affirmation as a person, 2- Confirmation for me, 3- Is school purposeful? 4- Do I have power within me? 5- Will I feel satisfied from a challenge conquered? By having differentiation, the student's self esteem increases because they are one and not one of many.

Morning Meetings

As I read the book and the artcles, I had several thoughts about morning meetings. When I first started, I was very skeptical, it sounded like it would take valuable learning time, but as I continued to read, I realized it is learning. I liked that the teachers brought out the fact that their classrooms were no longer individual students, but an entire community. I think that having the students greet one another builds comrodery in the classroom. When the children are given the opportunity to share one interesting thing about themselves and then have the other children comment on it, it makes anyone feel good to know they are being heard. I have had my mind changed, I would use this in my classroom.