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Providing ideas and resources for K-12 teachers and school-based administrators.
Episodes
Tuesday Mar 22, 2016
Tuesday Mar 22, 2016
What is formative assessment?
Let’s use a simplistic working definition
Formative assessment is the purposeful use of activities that will not be graded that will reveal to the teacher what the kids know and don’t know. The results of these activities will be used to adjust instruction to help the kids develop a better understanding, over-come confusion, or move on because they already get it.
“Why you need to use formative assessment.”
Here is a short list of a few of the many characters who might remind you of some of the kids in your classes:
1. Mr. or Ms. Compliant- This is the kid who will do whatever you ask. Just tell him/her what to do.
2. The Recluse- Leave me alone. Let me be. If you push to get me involved I will probably just ignore you and not really try.
3. The Answerer- has all of the answers and is usually correct. Wants to answer every question.
4. The Comedian- Looks for opportunities to make everyone laugh sometimes appropriate often times not.
5. The Disruptor- Seeks to take advantage of keeping the teacher off task and trying to find out what buttons can be pushed and how far he can go before he is really in trouble.
6. The Questioner-She/he usually has very high grades and wants to know more. This child always is ready with a question that will probably try your knowledge of the content. Has the greatest opportunity for driving you nuts because you know he/she will have a question.
7. Love Struck- This child is off in neverland dreaming about holding hands and cuddly stuff. He/she is often doodling, writing letters and really not on this planet.
Kids are not machines or blocks of marble. Machines can have a bolt tightened or a chip inserted to improve performance. Marble can have a little chipped off here and a little there and suddenly voila! A masterpiece! They are living, thinking beings who can have bad and good days. They can get lost in daydreams and their own agendas. Therefore, it is important to plan for opportunities to see what they understand and what they are not getting.
This is why you need to use formative assessments. You have all of the characters I outlined plus so many more in your classes and they need you to break the code. They need you to figure out what they know and don't know. They need you to help them develop a better understanding of the content.
Are you using formative assessments?
If not, I will soon link you to some great techniques and support for getting started and continuing to use them.
Don't wait! Start now!
Thanks for listening.
By the way, this is part one of three.
Stay tuned for the next chapter of Formative Assessment in the Classroom.
Tuesday Mar 15, 2016
Tuesday Mar 15, 2016
Ernie is the 2016Georgia Teacher of the Year.
He is a history, civics, and government teacher at WindsorForest High School in Savannah, Georgia.
When Ernie turned 50 he left his world of law to become a public school teacher.
He always knew he would become a teacher but only after being a lawyer. Throughout his previous career, he kept thinking, “What have I done to make a difference in my community?”
This thought helped to push him make the change.
Ernie is fun to talk with and you will hear his energy and focus on kids, immediately.
One of the areas we talk about before we get into teaching is his experiences from substituting and its impact on his classroom mannerisms.
Listen for him to also mention the importance of building relationships with the kids.
One of Ernie’s strategies for connecting with the kids is standing at the door, greeting the kids with a smile and practicing active listening. (He explains this.)
Ernie describes the importance of learning and using the kids’ names.
We get into his favorite teaching strategies, how he hooks them into the lessons, and how he helps the kids to “get it.” We also talk about what his ideal classroom would like as well as what advice he would give to brand new teachers.
I hope that you will think about what has worked for Ernie and try some of his ideas in your classroom.
You can connect with Ernie through his email 2016TOTY@gmail.comor go to the WindsorForest High School website.
Thanks for listening.
Enjoy!
Length:46:10
Wednesday Mar 02, 2016
Wednesday Mar 02, 2016
Wednesday Feb 24, 2016
Wednesday Feb 24, 2016
Colin and Michelle are high school teachers who have created amazing resources for classroom teachers.
Their website links you to their podcast and show notes as well as other goodies.
The audio podcast, Teacher Tactics, covers many different topics all of which are relevant for the classroom teacher looking for help or assistance in the classroom. Topics range from apps to classroom management to engaging kids with the content.
Each episode is broken into unique segments. Listen for us to talk about the Your Homework song …”try this in your classroom.”
I really enjoy listening to their commentary and thoughts about teaching and working with kids.
As a note, Colin has a YouTube channel where he has videos about math and business.
Michelle has a photography business called Bishop and Lind.
After listening today, I encourage you to check out their podcast and all of theirideas about working with kids.
Enjoy!
Contact Colin and Michelle here: Hello@teachertactics.com
Also, check out these links:
https://www.teachertactics.com/podcast/
https://www.youtube.com/user/mrcolindodds
https://www.facebook.com/getteachertactics
https://twitter.com/mrcolindodds
Length-44:03
Wednesday Feb 17, 2016
Wednesday Feb 17, 2016
Jennifer Gonzalez is a former middle school language arts teacher who earned her National Board Certification.
After a break to be a stay at home mom, she took a position at a college where she works with pre-service teachers.
She is a podcaster, blogger, professional speaker, coach, trainer and author.
I reached out to Jenn after hearing her podcast Episode 31-The Power of Being a Dork (Cult of Pedagogy). I love the story about the trombone player and the song by Chicago.
Jenn notes, “to demonstrate an infectious love of learning the kids will roll their eyes and they will call you a dork…whatever… but it’s going to kind of sink in, even if it is later in life.”
Her commentary focuses on three ways “Dorking Out” can change the world:
1. Being a dork teaches other people to love learning.
2. Being a dork frees the dork in others.
3. Being a dork puts a dent in the status quo.
Her thoughts about teachers needing to release that inner dork and why is just too cool.
Also, check out our comments pertaining to her book that she co-authored with Mark Barnes called Hacking Education: 10 Quick Fixes for Every School. She talks about her favorite Hack- The Pineapple Chart.
Additionally, we discussed what her ideal classroom would look like and she referenced a segment of her blog that she calls Classroom Eye Candy.
By the way, check out an article she wrote called “Find Your Marigold: The One Essential Rule for New Teachers.” She says that it is her most downloaded post.
Hope you enjoy today’s interview.
Oh yeah, check out her book, Hacking Education: 10 Quick Fixes for Every School. I’ve read it. It’s filled with great ideas that you could put to action in your school or classroom, tomorrow.
Take care.
Steve
http://www.cultofpedagogy.com/
Find Your Marigold: The One Essential Rule for New Teachers
Hacking Education: 10 Quick Fixes for Every School
The Teacher’s Guide to Tech 2016
Classroom Eye Candy: A Flexible-Seating Paradise
Classroom Eye Candy 2: The Learning Lounge
Length: 42:55
