How Will Common Core Based Instruction Change Classroom Practice?

At various times during the summer, the vast majority of teachers will start prepping for the start of the new school year.  This activity will more likely than not go on a few days a week for several hours at each sitting. Why do teachers do this?  Teachers (including me) want the new school year to start off on the right foot with no lost time preparing students to have a successful year under the common core framework.

So, though teachers will still be able to hold on to probably 90% of what they taught in the past, they will need to reflect on new ways to cover the material.  A "less is more" approach will probably be the most effective since teachers will be able to go into far more depth in instructional delivery than in the past.  THAT is a good thing for in the past most teachers were forced to take a mile-wide 1 inch deep approach to instruction due to the pressure of meeting state standardized mandates for student performance in their districts.  Start selecting material that really inspires you--the type of material that you wished you had had more time to spend on but pressures being what they were, you could not do so.

Here are some suggestions which might provide some support in planning for the fall.  Remember that these suggestions are only that--suggestions:)

1.  With the support of administration, create a group of willing colleagues to do collective planning across disciplines to develop lessons.  This way students see, for example, that key academic words are not limited to just one discipline, but instead, will surface in all content classes.

2.  Locate teachers seen as model educators who would be willing to have a open door policy so that teachers can see what model common core lesson delivery looks like in practice.  At my site, 22 of my fellow staff members will also be delivering professional development workshops throughout the year as well.  This approach has the potential to be far more effective than bringing in outsiders to do the same.

3.  Ask administration for time to meet monthly with teachers who share the same students.  Why?  With this approach, a team plan can be created to best meet the needs of struggling students (especially English language learners).  Such meetings often times present different viewpoints on student strengths and weaknesses.  With such knowledge, the team devises agreed upon strategies to tackle student academic needs and monitor progress as needed.

4.  Build into the school day, tutoring support for students who are having a difficult time in their academic classes.  Provide primary language tutors along with content teachers if possible.  University students who plan on becoming teachers would be an excellent resource to tap here.

Here are some additional thoughts on preparing for the major changes coming to classroom practice from Harvard's Graduate School of Education.  Check them out and see what works for you:)


Denise

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SCIENCE FICTION MEETS SCIENCE THANKS TO RAY BRADBURY-Great Reading for ELLs

Science fiction often times inspires scientists.  Ray Bradbury dreamed and wrote about the planets as though he were actually there.  He took us to Mars, Venus,  time travel, and beyond.  As we read his stories, we explored the planet through his words.

Here, with common core in science, English teachers could teach the literature (fiction) while science teachers could address the actual science Bradbury touched on and address the facts (i.e.  what does Mars look like?  Venus?  Is time travel possible?  etc.)

How could educators teach this in the fiction component of the Common Core ELA without losing the ELLs who may be in their classes?  How can teachers support them so that the ELL can fully appreciate the genius of Bradbury and possibly develop an interest in astronomy?

One short story that continues to be a favorite over the years is Bradbury's ALL SUMMER IN A DAY.  The story takes place on Venus where it rains all day every day except 2 hours every seven years.  Of course, the environment of Venus is not one humans can live on, but that can be addressed in science class.  Here, the focus is on kids being very mean to a child they lock in a close so she can't enjoy the two hours.  There is certainly more to the story, but it is one that middle school and high school kids really enjoy.  Have ELLs and EOs address key themes in small groups where they will pick up threads of interest to their group and then share out what they came up with.  This can be delivered in any way that suits the group--pictures, words, concept maps, dialogues, skits, etc.  This link will take you to the text of the story:  ALL SUMMER IN A DAY BY RAY BRADBURY

For ELLs to truly follow the story, you may wish to see the video.  Well, here it is online for free viewing.  Show it in clips so that ELLs can acquire those vital skills to become proficient readers.  Ask students how they might change the story?  What should be done with the teacher?  Etc.  The film is only about 25 minutes in length. FULL LENGTH VIDEO OF ALL SUMMER IN A DAY

Another favorite of students is SOUND OF THUNDER which addresses time travel.  Is this possible?  No.  However, what would happen if it were?  That is where Bradbury takes us here.  How would an innocent in the past done by a time traveler affect the present?   This is the link to the text: 
 A SOUND OF THUNDER  The movie is not available online for free though.  I will share that the story is far better than the film.  In fact, ELLs and EOs, in teams, created time travel brochures for their "companies" and then had to deliver a sales pitch to find customers.  Argument and persuasion activity which would prepare students to undertake the eventual required essay.

RAY BRADBURY "GOES TO MARS" THANKS TO JPL  What an incredible clip!  Bradbury wrote about Mars decades before probes were sent there.  In this video, Bradbury actually is given the opportunity move the rover around using a joystick.  You have to wonder what he was feeling as he "touched" mars.

Bring in tools to enable ELLs to truly access content.  This way you will have full participation.  Let the internet be your supply house (and my blog and website):)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS 

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