Welcome to our
#G2Great chat tonight:
Part 1 of our series
Maximizing Our Potential
Focusing on the
Literacy Work that Matters
"Allocating Instructional Time"
@DrMaryHoward@brennanamy@hayhurst3
Welcome #G2great friends. We are so grateful that you are joining us tonight. I will be ROBO “Pretweet” Mary tonight since I’m currently working in a school in Honolulu HI. I’ll savor your wisdom & post the @Wakelet AFTER the chat - by the ocean ❤️
A1: We must have a sense of urgency about prioritizing our instructional time because we don't have enough of it. What practices can be eliminated in lieu of more effective ones? #G2Great
A1. Every second of every minute of every day of every year at school MATTERS. There are no "Do Overs". Ts must use time wisely Every Single Day. We can control the learning & the use of time at school.
#G2Great
A1. What we know from research ... Allington via @ReadByExample "These teachers routinely had children actually reading and writing for as much as half of the school day – around a 50/50 ratio of reading and writing to stuff ..."
https://t.co/iWCQFSnuLX#G2Great
A1 Time is the only thing that’s finite. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. That alone should be the driving force behind rethinking how we expend our precious limited minutes. #G2Great
#g2great A1: Our time with the kids is relatively short, considering all we are expected to do. By intentionally planning to make the most of every minute, I can help my kids grow as much as possible.
A1: Kids put value on time. If it is noticing their teachers coming to events or how we spend our class time. They notice. They value what we place as priority. #g2great
A1 My WHY for this remains my WHY for everything: THE KIDS! They deserve the best from us and allocating time to maximize everyone’s potential is the very BEST! #g2great
A1. What we know from research ... Allington via @ReadByExample "Less effective Ts ... kids R & W for as little as 10% of the day (30 min. /300 min., school day). ,,,a 90 min. “reading block” produces only 10–15 minutes of actual reading time.
https://t.co/iWCQFSnuLX#G2Great
A 1 during instructional time , need 15-20 minutes independent reading, teacher read aloud, instructional level reading instruction, partner and group discussions, writing about reading-need 60 to 75 min a day in middle and high school and 120-150 minutes a day in K-5.
#g2great
#g2great This is why I love what my district has been doing in literacy studio: 2 hours. Of that, only 15-20 minutes is “mine” for whole group instruction. The rest is for kids to read and write (they choose, but are expected to do both every day).
A1: Students are with us for such a small portion of the day so we can’t spend that time engaging in activities that are not authentic, purposeful, or engaging to students , #G2Great
#G2Great And as always so wise Mary. And to be a little “zen” the happiest people live in the moment. I am always happiest as a teacher when I am in the moment of engaging with students and learning and not fretting over some other unimportant nonsense.
A1 Time is the only thing that’s finite. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. That alone should be the driving force behind rethinking how we expend our precious limited minutes. #G2Great
A1 Every moment we spend in unproductive time-wasting ways reflects a moment that we have cheated kids. It’s simply about being thoughtful about the choices we make on a day to day basis. #G2Great
A1 - In reflecting upon allocating our instructional time, we are being intentional about every minute. We are attempting to eliminate the wasted time to make room for "meaningful experiences" #g2great
A1: The WHY is kiddos need & deserve us to be good stewards of time. We don’t have enough of it…so spending it on the highest leverage moves is what matters. #G2GREAT
By allocating instructional time in a way that has us teach with urgency, we can watch our Teacher time and allow the learners to own their learning time. #G2Great
Yes and to follow up on this I would say that kids can sense the time we take on a downloadable package program (minimal) People don't like to hear it but kids notice when we call it in. #g2great
#g2great I will admit that it took time for me to learn to be as efficient as possible with my instruction and time. It was not always easy, given demands of curriculum and expectations of administrators.
A1 When time is efficient and every minute of instruction is worthwhile and none of it is wasted, learning will flourish. In business time is money. In education time is learning. #g2great
A1 It’s so easy to waste bits of time in the day: standing in line, transitioning, clean up. If we wrote all of those bits down, we’d be shocked at the magnitude of wasted time by the end of the year. Be aware. #G2Great
A1. Ss need time to practice and process. We all know that the more focused practice (mental rehearsal and physical practice) we do for something, the better we get at it. #g2great
A1:Time is a precious commodity. Many times one must get creative with how to manage the “time” we’re given with the constraints which are out of our control. Prioritize and make time for what we value first. #g2great
A1. It's critical that we are honest about "time wasters" when Ss are not R and W for real reasons. Can't spend all day "getting ready to . . ."
#G2Great
A1 My own why statement: I coach teachers so they are empowered to provide a safe place for students to be curious, to read widely and critically, to experiment with and express ideas, to learn about the world and its people, to discover their capacity to create, 1/2 #G2GREAT
A2. Disruptive schedules:
Assemblies, safety drills, announcements . . . anything that "drones on" and could have been handled more efficiently!
build a schedule that has those events included w/o disrupting learning.
#G2Great
A1 - we also need to be efficient and allocate our own planning time. Wasted time prepping unnecessary, unmemorable tasks is time taken away from meaningful instruction #g2great
#g2great In workshop training I learned a key question is what work do we leave the the students and why. Burkins and Yaris really got me thinking about that. As you plan if you know the answer to that key question you can avoid wasting a lot of time.
A2 Basal reading programs! It’s ludicrous to think that all Ts must be on the same page at the same time. We don’t have one-size-fits all kids so why would we even consider treating them as if they are? #G2Great
A2: Some districts, including my own kids, use low-utility assessments (AIMSweb, STAR). When given before, or in lieu of, meeting 1:1 w/Ss=missed opportunities. My own son rushed through his "computer test" so that he could read his ind. choice book. #G2GREAT
A2 High stakes state assessments driving what we do is such a challenge for me. Yes it is important, yes we have to do it, but I hate it! It isn’t appropriate and it gives us useless information for instructional planning and design. #g2great
A1 I think of Marie Clay's call for us to teach with a sense of urgency. Students need us not to waste their precious learning time with any time wasting activities. #G2GREAT
#g2great A2. My schedule this year chops my literacy block into at least two (and on Wednesdays 3) chunks. This keeps my kids from getting into a groove. The transition from literacy to special and back to literacy takes time away from their reading and writing.
A2: I am a self-contained teacher- so all the topical content I need to cover vs the conceptual, hands-on learning I want to engage my students in is a battle for me #g2great
A1 ...to engage in civil discourse and to envisage their learning and its influence on themselves and others." The commitment to my why helps to allocate instructional time with a razor-sharp focus. We must know WHY before we launch out on the WHAT. #G2GREAT
A1: I find it’s equally important to teach our Ss to value their learning time, too. By taking the time to go slow at the beginning to learn routines and expectations allows for less wasted time in the future. Go slow to speed up?#g2great
A2: meetings, phone calls that aren’t urgent, the need to complete tasks that aren’t meaningful yet are required. When time is lost, it’s about reallocating those minutes throughout the day and prioritizing what is crucial. #G2GREAT
A1 also... I think it’s important the we have urgency and efficiency without rushing kids. Sometimes slowing down is actually the most efficient. So my goal is to talk less so kids have more time to slow down and learn. #G2great
@juliewright4444 I've often thought we need a "truth in testing" movement rating and ranking the test on FACE vailidity e.g. do the measure reading or decoding. #G2Great
I see that same issue in so many districts. It’s not effective, inefficient and disruptive. I applaud you for naming it as a problem. On paper it looks like a lot of time, but clunky chunks of time don’t work! #G2GREAT
#g2great A2. My schedule this year chops my literacy block into at least two (and on Wednesdays 3) chunks. This keeps my kids from getting into a groove. The transition from literacy to special and back to literacy takes time away from their reading and writing.
A2: Testing demands 😩 #g2great It seems like just as we begin to hit a productive stride it’s time for another test! Too much instructional time taken away from our kiddos!
A2 What I find most disconcerting is that many mandates are made by people who don’t have the knowledge to support wise decision-making and without even consulting the people who do. #G2Great
A 2 Schools often require teachers spend time discussing initiatives like positivity, test prep, computer programs for reading, erode valuable instructional time.#g2great
A2.Schedules get cut up funny and it makes for more transitions - mental and physical- for Ss and Ts. Being creative and developing routines for getting back into the groove quickly helps everyone. Developing that sense of urgency and purpose across the day. #g2great
A2 Computerized intervention programs have become a virus that have done little more than exacerbate the equity issues. Interventions require knowledgeable educators eyeball to eyeball with kids in student centered experiences. PERIOD! #G2Great
A2: my district’s kindergarten schedule is two full days/week with alternating Wednesdays. I have to maximize every minute. Any little disruption can derail the strongest lesson. #g2great
#G2great A1 We prioritize & make time for what we value! Independent reading coupled with Conferring...Know & Nurture via relationships\. partnerships + specific tailored instruction + goal setting and celebration!
A2 Recently heard from a friend who teaches kgarten and there was talk that the district was going to mandate 30 minutes/day on isolated grammar skills with a required 30 minutes of handwriting practice. Is there research to support this practice? #G2GREAT
A3: Without a big picture approach, we compartmentalize portions too much - there is a disconnect between word study, guided reading, read alouds, writing, etc...#g2great
A3. Take the whole day and + up Reading minutes.
Take the whole day and + up Writing minutes.
Take the whole day and + up Speaking & Listening minutes.
Are ALL Students reading and writing enough (volume) to grow?
#G2Great
Absolutely! If decision makers would spend more time fully engaged in classrooms and asking for real input from real teachers, we might actually get somewhere that make sense. #g2great
A2 What I find most disconcerting is that many mandates are made by people who don’t have the knowledge to support wise decision-making and without even consulting the people who do. #G2Great
A3 Literacy is the thread that holds our day together as reading and writing are part of all subject areas. It’s not difficult to move literacy across the curriculum so that reading and writing will stretch across our day and our building. #G2Great
A3: Doing a time assessment where we determine how much time across the day belongs to the Ss is essential. Study how many minutes across the day Ss own the time--to read, write, make, create, design and do. #G2Great
A3 Big picture is important because we have to understand where we are going before we go there. Blindly walking a path is not efficient for anyone! Creating echos of our teachings throughout the day is a great way to make learning stick! #g2great
A2 Recently heard from a friend who teaches kgarten and there was talk that the district was going to mandate 30 minutes/day on isolated grammar skills with a required 30 minutes of handwriting practice. Is there research to support this practice? #G2GREAT
#g2great A3 I like to think about ripples across the day. How can I put things together so that the ripples (like dropping a stone in a puddle) keep moving across, making connections, and inviting transfer.
Unfortunately, I have found there is "research" to support almost anything in education. That's part of the problem. Most programs out there tout being "researched based" so people believe what the publishers claim without ever reading the research to see if it is valid.#G2great
A3: The big picture stuff is supported by all the smaller tasks. If we don't have a big picture how do we know what we need to focus on to get there? #g2great
A3: Seeing the big picture stops us from teaching isolated skills and keeps the focus on students reading, writing, collaborating, and creating throughout the day and across all content areas #G2Great
#G2great A2 hands down assessments that yield little if any valuable data teachers can use to actually inform instruction and better know and nurture students 😔 over emphasis on fluency defined only by wpm, overemphasis on GR, and Intervention esp when tier 1 is lacking
A3: without considering the big picture we fragment the day into pieces and kids think that there’s no place for reading or writing in math, science, etc. Spoiler alert: there is! #G2GREAT
A3 Schools craft vision statements w/o deep conversations about what we value across a building. Our values are the professional GPS that helps us to see the big picture across a building. It gives us a common spirit of connectedness. #G2Great
#G2great A2 hands down assessments that yield little if any valuable data teachers can use to actually inform instruction and better know and nurture students 😔 over emphasis on fluency defined only by wpm, overemphasis on GR, and Intervention esp when tier 1 is lacking
A3 Ss need to see connections and so do I. Ts can integrate and prioritize lessons if they are looking beyond day to day. Helps balance the mind and our time #G2great
A3 this question made me think BIG big picture... what are we hoping transfers to a life of reading and writing and learning? Holding this big understandings help guide the parts of the day together #g2great
A3 - countries that use a more integrated approach to instruction (not divided into so many subjects), such as Finland, tend to see more engaged, happier students. Chopping up the day is not always best #g2great
A3 That “big picture lens” ensures that excellence will permeate our building at every turn. This can’t be a matter of getting the luck of the teacher draw according to real estate. #G2Great
A3: it builds a community within our school- we have a common purpose and mission and support each other towards that big goal- I see this in my school and am so thankful for our shared vision and amazing leadership support #g2great
A3: without considering the big picture we fragment the day into pieces and kids think that there’s no place for reading or writing in math, science, etc. Spoiler alert: there is! #G2GREAT
#G2Great@franmcveigh I’m sure there is research that donuts and potato chips are good for you too! LOL ! It is a shame that people will grab supposed research to support something not helpful in education.
A3 What are the literacy instructional goals? Because those are the same goals for every part of the day. Without reading and writing, there is nothing else. #g2great
A3 When you look at the big picture you can include reading & writing throughout they day & in various content areas. Move away from this is reading time, this is writing time, this is science time. Instead reading & writing are all of the time. #G2GREAT
A3: It would be very interesting to know how many hours/days total are actually spent on literacy, math, science, ss, CTE VS testing at the secondary level in an entire year. #g2great
A3: It would be very interesting to know how many hours/days total are actually spent on literacy, math, science, ss, CTE VS testing at the secondary level in an entire year. #g2great
A3 I was so changed by reading @BurkinsandYaris Who's Doing the Work and their clear admonition to make the components of BL integrated and not disconnected bits of instruction. Kids should daily see a connection between read-aloud, shared reading, GR, IR #g2great
#G2great A3 a narrow lens dedicated to curriculum/standards, following scripts, checklists, #s spreadsheets=passive compliance, Ts going thru motions on autopilot, and kids fall out of sight fading into the background
A4: Co-planning time with colleagues that include Ss voice. Invite Ss into planning through work samples, exit tickets, think tanks with kiddos. Ask them what they need & want, they enlighten our planning every time. #G2GREAT
A4 Independent reading should go into the calendar first. We know the impact that volume plays on literacy development and yet it’s not a priority in every classroom. Why is that? #G2Great
A4 My one must would be leaving time for #IndependentReading EACH AND EVERY DAY! #g2great It’s truly the most important part of every Ss day and if we wish to create literate citizens that enjoy reading, we have an obligation to leave time for it!
A4: Read, Write and Talk Everyday. I have loved this year already as we read and discuss in pairs and groups, as we try out different quick write prompts and share our brilliance. #g2great
A4 My one must would be leaving time for #IndependentReading EACH AND EVERY DAY! #g2great It’s truly the most important part of every Ss day and if we wish to create literate citizens that enjoy reading, we have an obligation to leave time for it!
#g2great A4: MUST:
Kids MUST have extended periods of time to read and write.
Kids MUST have choices in what they read and write.
Kids MUST trust that their voices will be heard and respected.
Kids MUST be allowed to talk to their peers about all aspects of learning.
#G2Great I was so inspired when they hosted one of these chats. It made me really think about giving agency to kids. So hard to give up control sometimes but it’s so freeing when I do!
Yes! We even plan our read alouds differently when we look at our day with a big picture perspective. This can tie things together and cause Ss and Ts to find connections throughout all of their learning all day and all week long. #G2great
A3 When you look at the big picture you can include reading & writing throughout they day & in various content areas. Move away from this is reading time, this is writing time, this is science time. Instead reading & writing are all of the time. #G2GREAT
A4: Students must be able to read self selected texts and write about meaningful topics in the mode they choose. They must also be read to every day! #G2Great
A3 When you look at the big picture you can include reading & writing throughout they day & in various content areas. Move away from this is reading time, this is writing time, this is science time. Instead reading & writing are all of the time. #G2GREAT
A4: Small group learning opportunities that are planned with Ss interests, curiosities and needs in mind. And that give Ss a chance to lead their own learning. #G2GREAT
#G2Great I was so inspired when they hosted one of these chats. It made me really think about giving agency to kids. So hard to give up control sometimes but it’s so freeing when I do!
A4b: Every class starts with 20-25 minutes of reading while I confer. As the year moves forward and I discover areas of concern we will target the work in meaningful ways. Mini lessons and guided practice. Writing is a journey we are taking together. #g2great
A4 As Steven Layne reminds us that read aloud shouldn’t need a defense – but it does. Read aloud is a professional MUST across all grades and all classrooms. It allows us to plant seeds as we create a learning community. #G2Great
A4: Using proximity to listen in and lean in to Ss conversations - formal and informal. This practice makes us more efficient and effective because it prioritizes using Ss voice & actions as planning tools. #G2GREAT
A4:read aloud, shared reading, independent reading, shared writing, independent writing, and because I’m back in K, built in time for movement, purposeful play and collaboration. (Which are equally important for big kids, too!) #g2great
Q4 Musts- daily read aloud, protected (no pull out/interventions) independent reading time, time to write, time to share and talk about thinking #G2Great
@mindi_r CHOICE is soooooo crucial. Choice leads to motivation and engagement. The new great debate in reading needs to center on the issues of engagement an creating LIFELONG readers. #G2Great
A4 Intentional instructional interventions that are thoughtfully embedded into the entire learning day are absolutely crucial. Sending children someplace else is the LAST resort, not the first. #G2Great
A4: Time to read all types of texts - different lengths, types, shapes, sizes. Time + choice = S independence & an evolving literacy narrative for each kiddo. #g2great
#G2Great I love it when I do a read aloud and suddenly the kids are getting that book or other books by that author from the class or school library. It makes me remember how much they are really letting it sink in.
A4 Students have the place of honor. I want them to feel safe and known and loved. (And reading, writing, read aloud.... those are nonnegotiable.) #G2great
Q5. Say "NO" to:
AR
Quizes,
Round robin reading,
whole videos,
Whole class all the time, or
Cookie cutter work!
Say "YES" to mini-lessons, video excerpt or frames, choice, voice & formative work!
#G2Great
A5 We have to be just that; hyper vigalent! We have to be critial consumers of curricular tools and resources. I always put worksheets in my trash can! Mostly, that’s where they belong. Ain’t nobody got time for worksheets! #g2great
A5 Before we can fill the mental instructional “trash can” we must recognize those things that deserve to go into it first. Teachers pay teachers, fill in the blank, packets of nothing. We must be hypervigilant (or apologize to kids). #G2Great
A5: Sizing up what work is “skinny” vs. “thick”. Get rid of the work that fill time and space (worksheets with no purpose) and increase work that gives Ss an authentic voice and purpose in the world - real work that lives in the real world. #G2GREAT
A4 I've shared this before, but @regieroutman stated that we must prioritize so time for Ss is spent primarily on authentic tasks that readers and writers engage in. That filter would eliminate a lot of bad practice (or useless, or "cute" Pinteresty tasks). #G2GREAT
A5 It’s hard to know what is trivial and time-wasting if we don’t have literacy knowledge that will help us to recognize it. We begin there as we make schoolwide professional learning a priority. #G2Great
A5: I love to change things up. I look back at last year and I don't think I would toss anything out. A few years ago I realized the damage that most programs do. The one sized fits all, the TPT stuff and of course AR those hit the garbage and I lit it on fire. #g2great
A5 We could start by calling publishers to task. We can’t have a knee-jerk reaction and just write a check for empty promises. The stakes are too high to allow anything into our buildings that are not worthy of kids. #G2Great
Ouch. This is so true! I find when I haven't planned well, I use inferior filler activities. (But I don't think having fun is ever wasted time!!!!) #g2great
A5 - I need to trash my unnecessary, non-meaningful teacher talk. I have to make sure my conversations with students are moving learning forward. Always. #g2great
#g2great I had this conversation with my literacy coach this morning as I was hosting a lab in my room. She was pushing me to shorten my mini lesson. I said I needed the time. Guess who was right? She was! 10 minute sweet spot left kids with 110 minutes of reading/writing.
A5 It’s hard to know what is trivial and time-wasting if we don’t have literacy knowledge that will help us to recognize it. We begin there as we make schoolwide professional learning a priority. #G2Great
A5 We can start by asking ourselves: Is this something I do as a reader/writer? Does this reflect reading and writing that happens in the world outside of school? #g2great
Q6: When we critically reflect on how we use our time (and the value of each activity), we will be surprised by how much opens up for independent reading. In my dissertation, I found 12% of instructional time was used for transitions! #g2great
Q6. Eliminate "Time Wasters" and use time wisely.
Set priorities.
Stick with them.
How do you grow Readers, Writers, & Thinkers? Give them time to be Readers, Writers & Thinkers!
#G2Great
During my last few years in 2nd grade I worked at decreasing the amt of worksheets I had my students complete especially during literacy center time. #G2GREAT
#G2great A5 isolated skill practice devoid of context and meaning, bell work/worksheet packets/choice menus and projects used as time fillers/killers, truly any practice that isn’t responsive to students needs & lacks meaning or engagement or opp to take ownership & transfer
A5 Time is tricky. We don’t want time to preempt responding to students’ needs. Each day use of time will vary because our students’ show us when they need interventions, scaffolds, reteaching. #g2great
A5- Can we please ban packets of any kind? So many obvious reasons why, but mostly because they are so defeating for kids who already take longer than others to finish their “work”. #G2Great
A6: Schedule it! Have your plans say: Students read; teachers meet with Ss in small groups or 1:1 while still prioritizing that everyone has time to read across the workshop, across the day, across the week, across the unit, across the year! #g2great
A6 It’s so simple, MAKE TIME! Authentic reading and writing is key to the development of literate citizens. We owe it to them to give them time to do what truly matters. MAKE TIME! #g2great
A6 It comes back to putting things into our “instructional trash can” that will not maximize our efforts. We can’t find room to increase the volume of reading if we aren’t willing to get rid of volume sapping time-wasting JUNK. #G2Great
#g2great I use the question, “How will this help you grow as a reader or writer?” EVERY DAY in my literacy studio. Kids need to know the answer to the question!
A5: Paperwork that can wait or be done at home. Sometimes it piles up but I tell myself that time with teachers and students is more important! #G2Great
Q6: When we critically reflect on how we use our time (and the value of each activity), we will be surprised by how much opens up for independent reading. In my dissertation, I found 12% of instructional time was used for transitions! #g2great
A5 Although I'm late (#HurricaneFlorence take-over), I've landed at this profound statement. Kids should definitely be about real work that young readers, researchers, writers do! Real life stuff. #G2Great
A5 Trash can--spending too much time on attendance, lunch count, checking homework, basal worksheets, "word-finds", teacher talk that takes up the bulk of learning time, anything that is not authentic reader/writer dispositions and tasks. #G2GREAT
#g2great OMG with the word find. Once I really thought about what kids got out of a word find (answer… NOTHING), I stopped giving them. Ashamed to admit they were ever in my classroom in the first place.
A6 We put experiences that raise volume in the schedule FIRST (ie independent reading, reading/writing workshop etc.) Then we can prioritize and reorganize (or even eliminate) to ensure volume has a place of honor in each day #G2Great
Training Ts how to schedule time to grade and plan and not do it during class time so they are fully present for Ss but Ts still need to have a life at home too. #G2great
A6 When something is a personal priority, you find room for it. If we all deepen our understanding of what volumes of reading per day does for children, we will find time for it no matter what. #g2great
#G2great A6 Based on a convo I had not long ago I’d suggest we must step outside of ourselves and past what we like, what we do, how we learned and recognize while we may enjoy one book at a time, students may differ and should have the right to read many books at a time=volume!
#g2great Don’t be ashamed, I think every reflective teacher thinks about things they could have done better. I know I do. It’s a sign that you are continuing to grow and learn as an educator.
A6 I am really excited to try a Friday writing day. I really want more time for Ss to write and have choice like I give for rdg-so Fridays will now be devoted to writing. #g2great
A6 We make texts the professional heartbeat of all we do. We ensure daily choice reading & elevate the role of read-aloud, shared reading/writing & independent reading/writing. Wishing on a volume star won’t get us anywhere. #G2Great
#G2great A6 Based on a convo I had not long ago I’d suggest we must step outside of ourselves and past what we like, what we do, how we learned and recognize while we may enjoy one book at a time, students may differ and should have the right to read many books at a time=volume!
A7 I want to become more intentional about what I am giving time for. I want to help show my Ts that being intentional with your time allocations is important and I want to help them design those allocations for what Ss NEED #G2Great
Q7. Lens from Nell Duke:
"Would the students be better off reading or writing?"
@nellkduke
Build a schedule with assemblies no more than 1 x /week. All classes still meet. Shave minutes equally - not whole periods.
#G2Great
A6 Authentic rdg & wrtg work is the real stuff. Someone on Twitter said that they'd rather be with doctors who had real practice in their education, not those who just read about the work. When I keep elevating real practices to Ps & community, they begin understanding. #G2Great
A6: Cut out the crap, kids don't need to do fill in the blank booklets or endless workbooks. Just stop this nonsense and let kids have a bit of that gained time to read. There is time for more targeted practice but we can spare some to love reading to read. #g2great
A6: I agree with schedule it in first! When planning think about when and where we can have students authentically reading and writing. Reflecting and revising as the year progresses. #G2Great
This is true, though some things feel especially egregious. Wordfinds. “Tell the story of a day in the life of a shoe.” Spending 6 weeks teaching The Giver or The Outsiders. #6weekworksheet#g2great
A6 Look at where you lose time- get rid of mindless busy work, tighten up transition times, make sure students know classroom procedures, be proactive with any behaviorial issues. #G2GREAT
A7 Awareness is everything. My goal is to help Ts really think about expenditure of time in the day and analyze worthy vs less worthy. With only so many minutes in a day, honesty is key! #G2Great
A7: I want to be able to pinpoint the why- what is the purpose of this- and try to eliminate any practices that don’t have a meaningful reason. #G2Great
#g2great A7: I want to be better at planning my invitational groups. This is the weakest spot in my literacy studio. I have student work to guide my instruction, but my groups last too long.
#G2Great I cringe when I think of some things I’ve learned not to do as an educator. All of us have those memories, it’s part of being human. I think the most important thing is kindness and an open mind to learn.
All of us cringe I think over some T practices.
A6:start with the practice of both from day one. Your students will come to understand what you value and begin to keep you accountable! Mine already do. #g2great
A7 - treating all instructional time like a Reading Recovery lesson. We should strive to make every prompt, every teacher/student interaction meaningful. Intentional, informed organization of the entire school day. #g2great
A7 We can’t ask Ts to use instructional time in professionally responsive & responsible ways if we’re mandating JUNK. We need to have hard conversations about what we value and evidence that our values are at the forefront. #G2Great
@franmcveigh Be wary of the QUALITY of the data in data based decisions. We need tests that actually test comprehension. We also need to be efficient in making ongoing assessments and most especially not to over test and under teach #G2great.
#G2great A6 Pt 1 Also...books are written to be enjoyed by students not for display in a china cabinet...what better gift could we give a student than a personal favorite...like the velveteen rabbit if it’s enjoyed it will become tattered, if it goes home & doesn’t return...
A7 Three Plus years ago, “focusing on the literacy work that matters” gave rise to this chat. #G2Great will continue to support from-the-heart conversations in the name of teachers & kids. We are so grateful to each of you!
#G2great A6 Pt well...now the S has a new best friend at home. Books are replaceable but moments that inspire and engage readers & writers in a ❤️ for literacy are priceless! #Shareyourbooks
A7 Continue listening and learning from my kids. Reading & Writing Workshops are their favorite times of the day. Period. If I were to try to shorten or skip any part, they'd take a stand. I must continue taking a stand for them. #G2Great
In reply to
@franmcveigh, @DrMaryHoward, @brennanamy, @hayhurst3
Would add that we need to train Ts to trust their intuition a bit. so much of teaching and understanding what a student needs become intuitive when we gain experience. #G2great
Oh how I wish I could go to NCTE- maybe next year. That’s what you are talking about right? But I hope we can meet in person soon and have a great chat! 😊 #G2Great
