221+Agenda+-+11.8.11



9:25 - 9:35 - Good News

9:35 - 10:00 - Reports from the Field - *Nominate agenda items below* (Sign your posts with three ~) What are some specific time management strategies when working within the context of cooperative learning? user:erinco1
 * smorph (what teachers do)
 * Lesson target/outline of when things need to be done
 * a 5 minute activity taking 30 minutes?
 * make sure you follow through with what you say, or the students will stop caring
 * the amount of time for an activity should be appropriate for the activity
 * use a timer
 * Heterogeneous grouping

-What types of things does one need to do when trying to put on a school assembly? user:brettguitar
 * PLAN IT OUT FIRST!
 * Talk to the assembly board if there is one
 * Talk to the principal and get permission
 * Ask the leadership class
 * Let the gym teachers know and reserve the room
 * Let the janitors know
 * Get community members know, contact them
 * Let the teachers know so that they can plan their lessons accordingly
 * Have the bands talk to their teachers of the classes that they will be missing
 * Put it in the announcements(Get the word out)
 * Veterans day- Invite families
 * Don't have a "sit still and lissen lesson" on an assembly day

-How can teachers utilize and incorporate promising new technology that is given to their classroom by the school board, but that technology is difficult to find a place in the classroom? How do we say we're actually using this technology without saying it's a waste of tax money? user:gndawydiak
 * Be educated in what the technology does, educate the teachers so they know how to use it, and then teach the students how to use it so they know how to use it
 * Annotating in an English class, science and math classes
 * People need to buy into the technology
 * It's not worth it unless people actually use it
 * Might be beneficial in some classes and not others
 * Only have one so that is more of a "special" thing
 * You can use it as white board, but if someone is absent you can print off the notes that you wrote on the white board for them

What are some ways we can include technology, or the use of computers in lessons that doesn't allow for opportunity to get off task? user:LBacci COME BACK TO THIS

Where is the line/what is the difference between a warning and a threat when dealing with disciplinary issues? user:hilary21
 * Don't use threats that you can't follow through with
 * Have a routine that will settle them down, or will get them in the mindset that you want or need them to be in for what you need them to do
 * Use these repercussions wisely, it has to make sense in the situation
 * If you are making threats that are manipulative and invoke fear then you are not going to maintain trust with your class
 * If you say you're going to do, then you have to do it
 * If you make a poor judgement call own up to it. That will build more trust in your classroom.

10:00 - 11:00 - Working with parents (continue discussion from last week based on your readings) Socratic Seminar
 * Don't make assumptions about your students
 * Also, don't bring any assumptions you do have into a conversation with parents
 * Keep in mind that parents know their kids better than any teacher
 * "Tell me about your child"
 * Keep in mind that parents know their kids better than any teacher
 * "Tell me about your child"
 * How do you explain that a student is failing with out insulting anyone?
 * your son/daughter isn't putting fourth their full effort
 * point out the specific assignments that they didn't complete or fell short on
 * don't sugar coat the situation but also don't degrade the student completely
 * make sure that the parents know how the student can catch up or make up work
 * have examples of the student's work
 * pair it with a plan for the student to recover (ie. meet after school or have a check list)
 * involve parents in the plan
 * explain strengths AND weakness
 * make it about numbers, not so much about who's fault it is
 * let the parents know that you haven't just written the student off
 * How do you work with single parents and their time conflicts?
 * At the beginning of the year get to know what parents will get back to you right away and which ones will need about a week to get back to
 * Have the students send home a note that the parent has to sign off on and gauge responses based on this
 * Offer a "homework club" for the students that might not get the help at home or just need adult interactions in a less formal setting
 * Utilize after school homework help programs with referrals
 * Present the kids with options to get help
 * Have partnerships between schools and parents to have workshops on how to help their students, especially those who feel like they can't help their students on their homework because they don't know the material
 * Assign projects or homework that requires parent involvement (interviewing their parents, etc)
 * should you make home visits in a secondary setting?
 * You should approach the student first but if the student is at risk the parents should be involved
 * Some students you have to fight for to graduate from high school
 * You shouldn't "run to" the parents, but you should utilize the parents to keep the students accountable
 * There is a difference between a freshman in high school and a senior in high school, so it depends on the student
 * Instead of visiting the home send a letter

11:00 - 11:10 - Break

11:10 - 12:00 - Lesson Plan Design - Think Aloud Remove File