tam - i've got a question about my typing for entry 4. I am MCGen- it's documented accomplishments. anyone there that can help?
Genie/GA/k - I've typed mine, but it is still in rough draft form...fire away, Tam
tam - Ok here goes. When I get to the second question: Why is this accomplishment significant?--should I be stating situations that are happening in the classroom?
Genie/GA/k - My understanding is that EVERYTHING should be tied to student impact. What is the significance of the accomplishment? Does it impact students? How?
Genie/GA/k - Example. I had an accom. that I thought was pretty good until I looked at the whole picture and trashed it because I enjoyed it but didn't have student impact.
Becky (ME) - Hi, Genie, How's it going?
Genie/GA/k - Hi Becky...
Genie/GA/k - I'm stuck on Entry 3...argh
Becky (ME) - What are you stuck on?
Genie/GA/k - I started out doing something totally different, but my students questions and curiosity led us into a unit on sink/float. Do I address this at the beginning of planning/instruction? I want the assessors to KNOW that this happened and changed the whole unit.
tam - Entry 4 again:I am also trying to come up with some quality ideas for "your work with the familes and community of your students." So far I am only thinking about volunteers in the classroom and two-way communication. Is it fair to ask what others are using for this? Sometimes I think these are too common.
Genie/GA/k - Tam, do you have any kind of special activities you do w/ your kids?
Genie/GA/k - I included a workshop I did and newsletter...if you have a website, this would be a good place for it.
Becky (ME) - For Entry 4 I used my newsletter, homework policy, parent volunteers, committee work, courses taken, etc. You just have to show it impacts student learning.
tam - like...........I'm not sure what you're thinking of
tam - what do you guys teach?
Becky (ME) - I also included a website that I was working on and the workshop that taught me how to do it.
Genie/GA/k - I teach k
Becky (ME) - second grade
tam - I was thinking of putting the kids writing on website- I did that last year and they loved it.
Genie/GA/k - what about you, Tam?
tam - I teach 3rd grade
Genie/GA/k - That is a good one, just remember it needs to be with these kids this year
Becky (ME) - for example, a newsletter promotes communication and working as a team with parents. It also allows me to let them know how the week went. Parents can help because they know what is going on in the classroom. etc.
Becky (ME) - Documented accomplishments can go back five years.
Becky (ME) - I showed how my communications with parents have changed and improved over the years.
tam - Yes, so I need to get going on that. It was easy to do. I also saw a great idea today. Have the kids write up a weekly newsletter on what took place during the week. This would promote good writing skills that we need to be practicing anyway for our Florida Writes.
Becky (ME) - That shows that you are reflective about your practice.
jodi - Hi all! Anyone working on EA Math?
Becky (ME) - Hi, Jodi!
Genie/GA/k - Back to entry 3, Becky...what should I do?
Becky (ME) - No.
Genie/GA/k - nope, EC-Gen
Becky (ME) - What's your big idea?
Becky (ME) - Tell me more about the project. What do you mean, it turned into a lesson on sink/float?
Genie/GA/k - It started out as "Thanksgiving-Foods". But following a discussion about the Mayflower, one student asked how the Mayflower could hold all that stuff and not sink. That's what changed my direction.
Genie/GA/k - The "big" idea was physical science-properties of objects and materials
Becky (ME) - You really have two lessons there. Think about the Big Ideas of Science. If you try to get too complicated, you don't have enough space to explain.
Becky (ME) - That still works, doesn't it?
Genie/GA/k - The content standard was physical science, but the objective was properties of objects and materials
Genie/GA/k - I had to look it up!Ha
Becky (ME) - It's all in the write-up. If you can explain it well, it's pretty cool that you responded to their curiosity by changing the lesson. That's Inquiry Science.
Becky (ME) - You wouldn't believe how much I had to look up. I just went and looked at one of my resources because I still have a lot to learn.
Becky (ME) - We're never done learning.
Genie/GA/k - Ok....that's what I'll do...I thought that was right...and VERY inquiry based
Becky (ME) - You are still talking about physical properties whether it's food or objects. That's why it's a Big Idea.
Genie/GA/k - YEAH...now I can write! HA
Becky (ME) - I think it can work. It sounds like you have put a lot of thought into it.
Genie/GA/k - Thanks, Becky
Becky (ME) - The offer is still open. I'd love to read for you. Do you still have my e-mail address?
Genie/GA/k - I'm not sure...send it to me again! I may be calling on you!
Becky (ME) - Genie, I sent you a PM. Did you get it?
tam - question on Entry 3-My whole unit was on water and then we got into water conservation- These big ideas confuse me. What big idea is water conservation considered under?
Becky (ME) - I didn't realize that we're the only ones left. HA HA!
Becky (ME) - Oops! Tam, I didn't see you. Sorry!
Genie/GA/k - I'm looking that up now, Tam...hold on
tam - that's ok- I'm reading the science stuff.
Genie/GA/k - Earth and Space Science...properties of earth materials
Becky (ME) - Sounds like you two have the same "Big Idea"
tam - that's what I was just reading. So let me get this straight- The big idea is "Earth and Space Science" -what is the properties of earth materials considered?
Genie/GA/k - that earth materials provide many of the resources that humans use....
tam - Ok thanks.
Genie/GA/k - I'm not too sure that is right...I think it all depends on how you develop the lessons and how the students tie it to prior learning.
Becky (ME) - We were talking about science and big ideas.
Becky (ME) - I have to go. Genie, let me know if you need me to read for you.
Genie/GA/k - Thanks a lot, Becky. I got your email and will problaby get in touch with you...thanks
Genie/GA/k - good nite
