#4thchat is a hashtag for teachers or anyone to talk about educational issues relating to 4th grade. Using #4thchat will create a network of 4th grade teachers or teachers working with 9-10 year olds across the world. We welcome anyone who 1. teaches 4th grade 2 .Works with 4th grade students and or 4th grade teachers 3. Likes 4th grade teachers (Groupies are encouraged).
A1: We use a calendar to make a rough schedule for the year so we hit everything before state testing. We had 2 planning days to evaluate and makes changes. #4thchat
A1: Will look at test data when it comes in later this month. We also use iReady data for both ELA and math. Consider where our weaknesses lie and make plans to strengthen those areas. #4thchat
a1. For academic growth we give a pre-assessment for an SLO and then a post-assessment and it allows us to see where the students have grown and areas they need to improve on. For personal growth, I have students evaluate me through a teacher report card #4thchat
Here are some questions to ponder as you reflect on your year - 20 Teacher End of the Year Reflection Questions - Minds in Bloom https://t.co/YskiEcIycb#4thchat
A2: Our principal had us make pencil sketch pacing maps for ELA & Math for next year just using our mandated curriculum and SBAC testing dates. Pretty old school still. #4thchat
@plnaugle I really like that article. I am going to be acting as Team Leader next year and these are great questions to think about as the year comes to a close. #4thchat
A2: For math, they want us to use the pacing guide set forth by our math company, iReady. They have suggested ELA standards by quarter so we follow those. #4thchat
A2: Our state provides curriculum maps (scope and sequence). Our grade team also work during common planning each week to develop their curriculum maps for the subjects they teach. #4thchat
I posed this Google form for students to answer at the end of the year. They could choose to stay anonymous if they wished. I had some very helpful answers! #4thchat
a2: I work at a Title I school so we are able to meet once a quarter for both Math and Reading to plan out the quarter. We also meet weekly as a team to look at the curriculum sequence. #4thchat
The past two years I've turned my end of year reflection into blog posts.
A year ago: Why I Stay. https://t.co/FfLkhfuuG0
This year: The Climb, An Award-Winning Year That Almost Didn't Happen. https://t.co/OkjwcLTCOY#4thchat
Wow!!! Very hard! But you will do amazing in your new position & you will see that you'll stay in touch with your former staff! So excited for you in your new role! #4thchat
Q3: Understanding by Design (UbD) encourages us to consider in advance the assessment evidence needed to document and validate that the targeted learning has been achieved. Do you use backward design or UbD when planning your units of study? #4thchat
We do a parent survey and a student survey each year. I always learn a lot, mostly from the student survey. I believe students deserve a bigger say in education, as do teachers if I'm being honest. #4thchat
Yes! There is no reason to reinvent the wheel or to have four people sitting around watching one or two people work. I do like to work in pairs though so that I have a sounding board and 2 heads are better than one. #4thchat
A4: Our 4th grade team works together to create our assessments. We plug them into our curriculum map and then create our lessons based on what we will be assessing our students on. #4thchat
A4: We work together when we can-seems like so much data to collect and turn in that there is no time to get it all done. We each try to share as much as possible for the team. #4thchat
My social studies teammate and I had to reformat our tests to align to our state test which is now Document Based Question format. Here is one of the DBQ assessments we developed - Manifest Destiny/Westward Expansion Test https://t.co/vrMJISA8hL#4thchat
I like the 6+1 Traits, but not the student bks that have sprouted over the years. I like talking 2 Ss about the characteristics of writing and talk with them about what they think makes 4 an effective piece of writing. More often than not, they name the 6+1 Traits. #4thchat
I am interested in seeing our results soon. With a brand new math series we were told to teach with integrity to the program- I hope they turn out great! #4thchat
Every Monday the students go home an hour early and we meet with our grade level teams. It's nice to have that weekly planning time built in every week in addition to the half hour before and after school. #4thchat
A5: This past year I had an ELA meeting every Mon., a social studies meeting every Tues, and a data meeting every Wed. during our planning time to work with teammates. #4thchat
I taught in a school system where teachers reported at 8 for planning and students arrived at 9 for classes. Loved the amount of cooperative planning that took place. #4thchat
A4 Love this ? ‘cause I’m living it @ the moment...mostly in my head, but it’s real. What does it mean 2 work together? 2 collaborate? What will that look like 4 our team? What can each of us live w/& what can we not let go of? How will we develop units? Lots of ?s! #4thchat
A6: We use the data from our state tests, iReady diagnostic testing, the district beginning of year and middle of year interim tests, week subject tests and formative assessment results to help us plan our curriculum each year. #4thchat
A5 Nope! We have a weekly planning time after school on most weeks. We do have PLC time during the school day and staff meetings every other week. Next year we’ll have early dismissal Fridays for meetings. #4thchat
Getting all teachers in the same grade to plan cooperatively was a huge push at my school this year. Some teachers didn’t like giving up three of their planning periods (45 mins each) a week to do so, but I think we got on the same page. #4thchat
A7 2 much time is spent on analyzing tests, especially external ones, instead of teaching & planning for teaching by looking @ student work. I’m a better teacher when I discuss a problem of practice w/colleagues & then try out different ideas 2 improve learning. #4thchat
Our district provides PLC time. One school meets each week for 45min. The other school meets every other week for 90 min. They have subs cover the classrooms. #4thchat
Was it helpful to be on the same page? I go back and forth about this. There are so many ideas different about what this means. Hard to decide when to team it up and when it’s OK 2 go solo. #4thchat
A7 2 much time is spent on analyzing tests, especially external ones, instead of teaching & planning for teaching by looking @ student work. I’m a better teacher when I discuss a problem of practice w/colleagues & then try out different ideas 2 improve learning. #4thchat
My current district uses Pearson. I used to supplement with Eureka in a different district. I may go back to that next year. The rigor is there in Eureka. #4thchat
I think you can still plan collaboratively but put your own stamp on how things are delivered. I'd say it's okay to digress as long as it benefits the students (& is connected to the learning.) #4thchat
