Me In YA Literature

Young Adult literature allows students to se themselves in the work. Once students are able to make these connections, they are more apt to understand the analysis of the work.

Please leave responses to the GA presentation.

Differentiation: Instruction that impacts each learner

Thank you for visiting the site and attending the professional development.

1. Please complete the survey : http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/53Z367D

2. Please add a comment to the question below:

How have you used the information presented to enhance your current instruction?

3. Please feel free to share ideas, questions, or provide ideas to previously posted responses.

Below are additional resources. Please add to the list as you create or research additional ideas.

http://www.readingquest.org/pdf/clock_buddies.pdf (Clock Buddies template)

Learning Unlimited: Educational Consulting

http://www.learningunlimitedllc.com/Wkshop%20Handouts.htm

Ideas for Grouping Students

http://www.tetatx.com/Teacher_Package/Classroom_Organization/1-24_Grouping.pdf

Tips for Grouping Students

http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/classmanagement/organizingtips/4grouping.html

Tiered Activity Samples

http://www.iu29.org/resources/Documents/TieredActivity.pdf

Responsive Teaching, Best Practices in Differentiated Instruction (Choice Boards)

http://schools.webster.k12.mo.us/education/components/docmgr/default.php?sectiondetailid=40880

Overall Refelection for O & A

As an educator my foremost goal has been and continues to be providing all students with the academic skills, passion to learn, and an opportunity to grow to their fullest potential. Through the course of time and changes in expectations for students many policies and new research has increased the level of accountability placed upon educators and students. As a new educational leader, one of the greatest challenges I envision will be maintaining my commitment to providing students with an educational setting that will provide them with the skills and experiences to be well rounded learners while still ensuring that students are making academic gains as outlined by NCLB.

This course has provided my strategies to best maximize all arenas of learning. One of the most important strategies I have discovered is ensuring that you use data to s=determine your instructional goal and supporting that attainment of the goal by ensuring that all areas, resources, professional development, technology and community involvement support your instructional goal.

Today’s technology allows individuals to have access to resources and people without restrictions on time or boundaries. In an effort to incorporate the 21^st leadership skills I acquired I find it necessary to use such resources to implement shared decision making and to allow for individuals to share ideas, resources, and strategies Likewise, such technology will allow stakeholders to take an active role in the school’s decisions and understanding the school which will help to create a positive and collaborative school climate.

Through the use of various programs (such as Performance Matters and EVACC) teachers will be able to access all student performance on benchmark and testing, which may be used to create lessons, enrichment, and remediation to improve student achievement.

Research shows that allowing teachers to exercise leadership causes them to feel as if they have ownership and strive more to achieve the goal. Likewise, allowing being open with all stakeholders about the school and inviting stakeholders in to help make decisions, increases their involvement and thus increases student achievement. Thus in my plan I allow teachers to provide staff development to each other, complete observations, and provide input into decisions being made. Additionally, parents are involved in creating ways to support their children.

Week Five O&A Reflection

The format of this course is unique and challenging. The format requires you to use a higher form of thinking (in reference to Bloom’s Taxonomy) as you are required to apply previously learned skills and information and synthesize by having to apply those skills to your own distinct school’s information. The structure has allowed me to better grasps concepts. This is most evident during the discussions with my teammates. We are able to talk about our understandings of the text and how concepts apply as well as challenge each other’s thoughts by asking questions and hi-lighting other perspectives and alternatives. While the concept of having a task each week is challenging it prepares you for your role as an administrator. As an educational leader you will be required to make decisions based upon the needs of your school, work with your counterparts, and met deadlines to ensure the success of your school. The structure also frames your mind and practices to be methodical, reflective, and grounded in research and data.

Questions:

1. Are the portions of the Administrative Action Plan similar to portions of ISSLC?

2. Is it possible to view examples of action plans previously submitted?

Curriculum Definition

Week Five of Curriculm and Theory : UDL

As an instructional leader, it is always my overall hope that educators are supporting students that they may be able to be successful now and in the future. While I understand that there is an every present need to prepare students and that the current needs of the 21^st century learner are different than previous educational models, I become reluctant to affix theory and tools to meet the needs of our learners. Regardless of the year it is fundamental that effective instruction be practiced.

Hence, as an instructional leader I would not necessarily specify technology to be used to ensure the curriculums are meting the needs of students. However, I would expect that teachers incorporate technology to further extend their abilities to enhance learning for students, allow students to make connections and have discourse, and to support students.

In repose to the prompt, I would like to see teachers use activities that allow students to collaborate and research. Of all the activities that were introduced, I found the activities that allowed students to have the passage read to them and pod casts to be types of technology that would be most beneficial.

Curriculum and Theory Refelection 1

The purpose of school is to generate within students the desire to want to learn and to provide a place where they may cultivate their minds and spirits, as well as learn life lessons that will mold them into a productive citizen. Moreover, schools should create a passion within students to seek out the best that they can be for their tomorrow. While I believe the core content areas should be taught, there should always be cores that provide a global connection and a rigorous curriculum. Additionally, in the spirit of educating the entire child, their should be courses the inspire creativity, ingenuity, and self- awareness. These courses would include dance, music, art, culinary and the like. As I am currently an educator, I seek opportunities to allow students to complete performance-based projects that show their understanding of concepts through their talents. Additionally I strive to allow students to make connections to the content and see the relevance in what they are completing for there tomorrow. Moreover, I strive each day to let my students know they are bigger than yesterday and have grown wiser for tomorrow.