September 29

Hybrid Reading 2020

The Technology Hustle

If you would have told me last year at this time that I would be in a classroom with some kids in-person and some at-home, I would have looked at you funny.  Who could have guessed that we would be juggling the different modes of instruction with in-person and virtual at-home students in the same moment! However, the innovator and experimenter in me is actually enjoying the ideation of how to make this come together.

 I regularly ask myself, How did I do this before and how can I do it now in a rich, meaningful way? 

I choose to explore and try out a new blend in the classroom.  It’s been some moments of trial and error. Suddenly, there are the beautiful moments.  Yes, those teaching moments where it just clicks.  It’s still happening!  This journal is about one of those moments of growth for my students and their interaction with each other.

The Reading Lesson Method

Model

We are starting each lesson with a focus and purpose for reading.  The focus of this lesson was to work on having a thinking moment while reading.

After we go over the reading goal, I always share with the class a book that I have been reading with modeling of the strategy.  I set up my own notebook and with digital instruction, I add a lot of pictures to my slides on Canvas.  This allows both in-person and at-home to see the modeling clearly.

Engage

 Students then spend twenty minutes reading the books they have selected. The learners at-home are put in individual break out rooms for the reading time. During this time, I do reading conferences with readers. I conduct one with a reader online by going to the break out room of the student.  Then I switch to a conference with a reader that is in the room.  I keep alternating with my readers during the twenty minutes.  I keep notes on each reader in a binder-not all things are high tech!

The students were given a Post-It note to jot a thinking moment during the twenty minutes.

Practice

 Next we moved into a time of practice. The students worked on extending their thinking.  I shared with them some previous student examples.  Then they were given time to put the Post-It note in their reader’s notebook and extend their thinking after the reading session.

When a student wants to type, I have them take a picture of the Post-It and then upload the picture to the Notes App.

Just look at that great development to thinking!

 

 

 

 

Reflect

 The fun came when the students were done working.  The students were shown the reflection tool for the day.  They were asked to re-read their work and rate their performance.  If they needed to make changes they were able to do so.  Next, we opened up classroom space to share the thinking and writing.  The kids were excited to volunteer.  My students at-home volunteered to read their work.  You can see that on my laptop, which was projected on the screen for in-person to see.  The in-person then gave feedback for the at-home student.  The magic sparkle arrived on faces when feedback was given and received.
Students in-person shared by coming to the iPad stand to read their work and allow them to be seen on Zoom.  The at-home kids gave the in-person student feedback.  Both groups were able to share great books, thinking, and smiles.  It felt like the “normal” days of reading instruction!
Category: Digital Learning, ELA Instruction, Reflection | LEAVE A COMMENT
May 27

Cheers to Summer

Passions Continue into Summer

Friday was the last day of school, I could not believe the day had arrived when we were doing our last Community Circle in the morning.  Our topic around the circle was “What student in this room supported you and how?” They went around thanking each other for being there and also for supporting their passions.  It was a beautiful moment.

Most of the day, was spent participating in the field day or team building activities in the classroom.  I loved the teamwork and bonding observed all day from this group.  Over the course of the year, I tirelessly learned about each one of my students and I love each of them for who they are right now.

Many years in my teaching career, I labored for hours putting together a slide show or end of the year video for the students. Not this year.  When you empower kids, they blow you away with their own versions of celebrating the end of an amazing learning year.

Two of my students, Nina and Neela, took on the end of the year video to close our year. They had told me that it was going to be a collection of pictures from our Seesaw photo library.  It was, but it was so much more!  They conducted interviews and focused on Passion Time.  Yes, that is how much it meant to them.  On their own, they collected qualitative research reflections.  Their gift brought me to tears.

At the conclusion of the day, one my boys, Terry, decided the team needed to make “Water Bottle Toasts” to each other.  Students made specific toasts about what they loved about the year, especially being able to grow in their passions. Many were toasting to the happiness summer break brings. Others blew me away. Students talked about how they felt supported and safe. One student shared, “I have had some hard things going on in my life. You listened and supported me.  This is the safest place I have ever found.” Yes, that was a tearful comment to hear. They owned their choices. Another student said, “I get mad sometimes.  I am working on my anger.  I want you to know that if I have hurt you this year, I did not mean to. I appreciate you all a lot more than you know.”

What made the school year this way? Two things:

  1. Community Circle
  2. Passion Time

We plan on staying connected during the summer through Flipgrid.  I set up a page for them to check in with me and each other.  Some kids will need it.  However, this teacher will need it too.  I am not ready to let them go.  Thank you to my students on team 5-4 for teaching me so many lessons. You have a big piece of my heart as you go on to 6th grade. Water Bottle Cheers to you!

Category: Reflection, Uncategorized | 2 Comments on Cheers to Summer
May 21

Summer Action is Reflection

Action Research Leads to Change, well, After Mistakes

As we get ready for summer, sometimes we look for the next big thing to try.  It can be wonderful to dream big the next ways you are going to improve your classroom.  However, may it is just reflection that we need.

One of my favorite ideas about action research is that it is a cycle of inquiry.  For example, I started a few years ago wanting to know more about how to increase engagement for kids in school.  I desired to see kids love learning and want to be at school.  I also wanted to see kids increasingly more committed to research that was authentic and meaningful.  An opportunity to attend professional development offered over the summer aligned with my schedule.  The training seemed to match a quest of improvement running in my mind. However, it was new to me, Genius Hour.  The question prompted the desire, which led to an answer, but one I needed to read and explore before attempting.  Summer provided the space to think, plan, and dialogue with my teammate how to make it happen.

When the school year began, we had to implement the plan.  In attempting it, we were messy.  It lacked the clarity it does now. We did not have experience of allowing students to each choose topics and head in different directions academically.  The learning space was new.  Our ability ask kids deep, probing questions into their work was much shallower. We directed excessively in comparison to now. It was much more difficult to give over control to the students.  We needed to get out of their way more.

We saw problems with the student outcomes.  Some students were struggling to develop a project.  Kids were not finishing their work.  The quality of work was not what we desired.  There were new problems to solve and fine tune.  It became a labor of love for the kids in the first year and has continued. Even though the first year lacked polish and craft, it was still appreciated by kids.  We were taking action for them.  We were learning how to let go and let them.

Action research is a cycle.  What teachers can do with summer break is reflect on what steps are working and decide how to fine tune.  Too often, we forget to evaluate and see our own professional growth.

Category: Reflection, Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT