This chat is moderated by Grapevine-Colleyville ISD educators where we discuss current education trends and deepen our learning. 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 8:30 PM CST September to May @msbearce @SBarkerEDU
Hello #gcisdchat friends! Bridget Visser, ELA teacher at Colleyville Middle. Can't wait to discuss one of the best things about teaching literacy, ever!! :)
A1 - It supports differentiation for all students because you are teaching them where they are! It allows students to have a lot of practice with reading and writing!! #GCISDchat
A1: Kids NEED time to read about topics that inspire them and write about their lives and interests! This is how they will grow and become life long readers and writers. More importantly, they NEED teachers who are passionate and make connections to their lives. #gcisdchat
A1: Kids need to see themselves as readers and writers. They need to see how the two are one of the same. Learning connects on a deeper level when you model, practice, reflect, get feedback and repeat! #gcisdchat
A1: The workshop model benefits kids most! They have the opportunity to see it modeled, have guided practice and try new skills with support! #gcisdchat
A1: This is soo important! Lots of practice. This week my language acquisition learners just told me what has helped them most in my class is having time to PRACTICE speaking, reading and writing. :) #gcisdchat
A1 - It supports differentiation for all students because you are teaching them where they are! It allows students to have a lot of practice with reading and writing!! #GCISDchat
A1: This is soo important! Lots of practice. This week my language acquisition learners just told me what has helped them most in my class is having time to PRACTICE speaking, reading and writing. :) #gcisdchat
A1 - It supports differentiation for all students because you are teaching them where they are! It allows students to have a lot of practice with reading and writing!! #GCISDchat
A2: My favorite strategy is having the Ss turn and talk, listening in, and sharing what I need the Ss to know even if the Ss said it or not. Huge time saver! #gcisdchat
I did the same thing @CMSVisser! I would also tell my students “We’re going to talk together for ___ minutes” and that would really help me be accountable for stopping! #gcisdchat
This is what I love about this model. The kids get to choose their own books so the interest/engagement is there. The differentiation is there. Practice is there. AND it doesn't require much extra work for teacher to cover that part of lesson. #gcisdchat
Q2: Keep read aloud outside the mini lesson. Refer back to bits and pieces as they relate to what you are teaching! Also, no cold calling on Ss! #gcisdchat
A1: Not only do they learn reading and writing, they learn about themselves, each other, others around the world, and how to relate to each. #gcisdchat
I try to keep mini lessons short and sweet, one new skill at a time. Lately I’ve been doing literacy talks… like number talks! I try to hook them with something that catches their attention! #gcisdchat
A2: Keep read aloud outside the mini lesson. Refer back to bits and pieces as they relate to what you are teaching! Also, no cold calling on Ss! #gcisdchat
A3 - In the small/strategy group you have determined what that student needs in order to grow … so it is a skill they need to begin practicing! #GCISDchat
A3: Not all Ss will master it after a mini lesson. Invite them to give it a try....don't expect mastery on day 1. Expect mastery after a cycle of strategy groups. If they aren't mastering it then, be reflective and try teaching it in a new and different way. #gcisdchat
A3: Mini lesson- yummy appetizer to start you off. Small group - Main meal. Your must have to keep growing/going. #gcisdchat :) Really though, small group is time to connect w/students and hear what they are saying and fine tune confusions.
A4: Purchasing or borrowing books that students are interested in. Getting, using and making available mentor text that help support what is being taught. #gcisdchat
This is awesome @pettit73! I recently saw Penny Kittle & every time I see her she does this with books for adults! What a way to develop the love of books and encourage readers to try new genres! You are so amazing, friend! #gcisdchat
I try to keep mini lessons short and sweet, one new skill at a time. Lately I’ve been doing literacy talks… like number talks! I try to hook them with something that catches their attention! #gcisdchat
A3: The mini lesson gets them excited about the learning but the small group gives them opportunities to practice & master the skills introduced #gcisdchat
A3: In the mini lesson you are introducing the skills to Ss, in small groups they are practicing applying those skills & teachers assess Ss needs as they meet. #gcisdchat
A4: I encourage Ss to read books from my classroom library, but also from Overdrive and Epic too. Mentor texts are always left out for them to read/refer to as well #gcisdchat
A3: The mini lesson gets them excited about the learning but the small group gives them opportunities to practice & master the skills introduced #gcisdchat
A4: Accept donations. I love @EvanPayneGCISD idea he told me earlier this year about letting kids write a message in the front book cover so that your Ss for years to come can see who donated it to the library and will be inspired to do the same! #gcisdchat
A4: I encourage Ss to read books from my classroom library, but also from Overdrive and Epic too. Mentor texts are always left out for them to read/refer to as well #gcisdchat
A3: In the mini lesson you are introducing the skills to Ss, in small groups they are practicing applying those skills & teachers assess Ss needs as they meet. #gcisdchat
Love that you help students find books both in print and electronically! Students can continue to access Overdrive during the summer months! #gcisdchat
A4: I encourage Ss to read books from my classroom library, but also from Overdrive and Epic too. Mentor texts are always left out for them to read/refer to as well #gcisdchat
A4 - @JennaBrosette - you could also have students record a book talk about one of your class library books, make it into a QR code, paste that into the front cover! Instant book talk for all of your future students! #GCISDchat#GCISDHumanities#TCRWP
Q4: In Kinder I think we have to be strategic! At first I put out lots of books to get their hands on books, then have them help create genres as the year progresses based on their interests. #gcisdchat
A4: Being new to MS, I did not exactly have the young adult literature they are reading, so my "classroom library" has been a lot of me going to public library & checking out for them to borrow when I hear them wanting a book. Whatever it takes! #gcisdchat
A4: Growing your library is a cultivation, carefully making sure it is diverse in genre, authors, content, perspective, reading level, and more. #gcisdchat
A5: At the beginning of the yr, I set a stopwatch see how long they can read without distraction & then each day they challenge themselves to read longer. #gcisdchat
A5 Set goals, track progress celebrate growth! Compliment conferences go a LONG way in helping keep kids engaged in the work of workshop. Stamina is a muscle. Ss need extended opportunities everyday to use these muscles! #gcisdchat
A4: Growing your library is a cultivation, carefully making sure it is diverse in genre, authors, content, perspective, reading level, and more. #gcisdchat
A5 Set goals, track progress celebrate growth! Compliment conferences go a LONG way in helping keep kids engaged in the work of workshop. Stamina is a muscle. Ss need extended opportunities everyday to use these muscles! #gcisdchat
A5: Start on day one and just see how long they can sustain reading and writing and build from there! Once they know, they will get your attention in conferences and strategy groups, they will understand why you aren't answering questions and coming to raised hands! #gcisdchat
YES!! That is the hardest one, but the most important in developing empathy in our children. If we are not exposed to it in daily life, it is important to get exposed through great literature! #gcisdchat
A4: Growing your library is a cultivation, carefully making sure it is diverse in genre, authors, content, perspective, reading level, and more. #gcisdchat
When you answer a chat question and then jump back to your dissertation for a quick second...and then realize you forgot about the #gcisdchat and missed the next 5 questions!
A6: It is not about accountability in my opinion. It is about engagement. Engagement is EVERYTHING! How are we using student voice and choice to drive our workshops? #gcisdchat
A6: Again looks different at MS level, but what I had to focus on this year was making sure they understood their progress looks different than their neighbors and that is OKAY! Started with holding them accountable for positive self-talk! (Pt. 1) #gcisdchat
A6: I use #booksnaps!! I ❤️ them and encourage students to do booksnaps focusing on new skills taught. Also mini 1:1 conferencing & self reflection, really knowing their strengths and challenges. #gcisdchat
A7: Once the stamina is built, you can start some Research Decide Teach conferences. Management all comes back to stamina. Stamina comes back to engagement. Engagements come back to knowing your kids which comes back to RELATIONSHIPS! #gcisdchat
A6: (Pt.2) Even if it is a one minute talk with a partner about the book they are reading or blog a quick thought, do something where they are talking about what they are reading. Makes it meaningful to them & shows them I really want to know. #gcisdchat
That’s perfectly amazing!!! We often want to give feedback on what to improve on...this would certainly go a long way in building relationships and risk taking for future!!! ❤️❤️ #gcisdchat
Q7: I confer with Ss while we’re all reading to ourselves to check strategies used & progress and then pull groups to work on specific skills while others choose what to work on independentlyfrom a reading menu. #gcisdchat
A8: The documentation keeps you focused on addressing the needs of each child efficiently. I also jot key informal things they say on my documentation form, which gives me insight to their feelings and things we can't "see" during reading. #gcisdchat
A8: Documentation guides mini lessons. If you see what the majority of your kids need, you can plan for instruction. It is also supports you in creating your strategy groups based on what pockets of kids need. Student driven instruction at its finest! #gcisdchat
A7 - we added some great documentation possibilities into the curriculum (in the R&W Workshop Considerations section) - https://t.co/BgGmMwjibG
Check them out … might see something you like or tweak a document! #GCISDchat#GCISDHumanities
A7: I start conferring on day one of workshop so that the students know my expectations! Once stamina is good, it makes conferring much easier #gcisdchat
YES!!! I LOVE, LOVE @Flipgrid and all it offers to listening, speaking, and sharing!! Most amazing tool ever for me this year with 150 kids! A great support for all learners. #gcisdchat
A7 - we added some great documentation possibilities into the curriculum (in the R&W Workshop Considerations section) - https://t.co/BgGmMwjibG
Check them out … might see something you like or tweak a document! #GCISDchat#GCISDHumanities
A8: I love the focus and intentionality my documentation provides and how it drives my instruction based on Ss needs. That being said, it seems I can never settle in and love one way. Different groups/students/years require different methods. #gcisdchat
A8: Still a work in progress for me this year, but have used logs, boxes, and grids, but I'm finding the best success with good ol' sticky notes. #gcisdchat
A9: We have some amazing things happening in our schools for kids by awesome teachers. AND....I am going to try a compliment conference soon! Simple, but I can see how it is so effective! #gcisdchat
