Nov
15

Comings and Goings – Two weeks of Co-teaching Coaching and Training

Filed Under (Differentiated Instruction) by sfitzell on 15-11-2009

Co-teaching Seminars This Week

Here in St. Louis (Clayton, actually). Checked in, shuttle driver took me to Whole foods – did groceries, going to polish my co-teaching presentation before bed. Tomorrow St. Louis, Tuesday: Springfield, MO, Wed: Kansas City, MO, Thurs: Minneapolis, MN, and Friday, FARGO!!!

Co-teaching Coaching Last Week

Last week I was working with Permian High School and Odessa High School in Odessa, TX. I love being in the classroom. Both high schools are making great gains in their co-teaching efforts. Not only did I get to work with some awesome teachers and administrators in Odessa, Texas, I attended a Permian High School Football ’send-off to the state championships’ bon-fire. I also attended an Odessa High Pep rally. They both made it to this past weekend championships in El Paso and they both won! Experiencing West Texas Football and West Texas friendly hospitality is truly delightful. The week flew by.


Oct
23

How can I Present History Effectively?

Filed Under (Differentiated Instruction) by sfitzell on 23-10-2008

Processing Long Information History Chapters!


Susan Streetman, Nederland HS writes, in history, some chapters are long and packed with information. Sometimes I think – how can I present this effectively? It’s too much! So, on colorful large index cards, I write quippy versions of the chapter’s subtopics. (using the exact subtopic would be too easy). Kids can confer during the game.
 
 

 

 

 

The Quippy History Game

Materials Needed

Then, also in my own words, I use small white index cards to write the main points under the subtopic. I try to make them humorous. I tell students a tough game is coming and tell them to be prepared. On the day of the game, I use music, a timer and a box. Student materials are the answers all mixed up, a handout with the quippy subtopics and lines denoting the number of items.
 
 

 

 

How to play the ‘game’

I begin with 3 minutes on the clock. I deal white cards after placing colored cards around the room while the time clicks off. I play music and students have to run around and deal information cards to match the correct heading. We check for the correct matches, put the wrong matches in the box, set timer for 2 minutes and re-deal. They love it and end up with a chapter review. They move around but must be in chair when the timer goes off.
 
 

 

 

The Summary Race

Cut up summaries to chapters, put students in groups. They race to be first (for a privilege) to descramble and paste the summary together accurately.
 
 

 

 

Fishing game.

Box decorated to look like ocean, a Scooby Doo fishing pole with a magnet instead of a hook. Paperboard fish with paperclips through eyeholes in ocean. Students compete in pairs to answer questions using magic slates. When correct, blind folded and go fishing. Number of fish lead to a privilege prize.
 
 

 

 

A Strategy using Videos to Cover History Topics

When I show films, I give out film sheets with different questions on them and 5 lines at the bottom. After the film clip, they must find 5 people with facts different to theirs that they place on their lines. These are shared and used for extra credit.
 
 

 

 

Groups Idea

Pick an explorer. Research his exploits. Make a poster. Use a clever title like “ Do you have any Ponce de Leon?” (students did that)! The poster must include; a time line, pictures of accomplishments, a map of his trek/s, and at least one navigational tool known at the time.
 
 

 

Give student groups transparencies

Group assignments are placed on them. They present and they are there for all to see. For example, we play, “Constitution Idol” ; student groups must present in any format the 27 amendments to the constitution DVDs, CDs, live. They can take liberties with words. They are an absolute riot. Everything from Barney to rap, Travis Tritt, Chumbawumba,. They are so great. Wear red, while, blue on awards day – for cookie or cake and photo for newspaper. They decide the winner. They all learn the amendments.
Susan Streetman
Nederland HS
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oct
07

Using Differentiated Instruction Strategies at Rochelle M.S.

Filed Under (Differentiated Instruction) by sfitzell on 07-10-2008

Rochelle Middle School Teachers Working Hard to Engage Students

Today, I worked with two groups of teachers at Rochelle Middle School who are interested in learning more strategies to differentiate instruction and meet their students needs. We discussed behavior management strategies for working with groups and Four Corners activites, and quietly cueing kids to get on task or to receive Kudos for doing the right thing! We also discussed four powerful teaching tips, adaptation strategies for students reading below grade level, and … Read the rest of this entry »

Oct
03

Do Virtual Schools Provide a Valuable and Needed Service?

Filed Under (technology education) by sfitzell on 03-10-2008

Considering the Merits of Virtual Schooling

I came across an article today that caught my attention because it had ‘virtual schools’ and ‘bullying’ in the first sentence. I spent many years researching bullying, it’s consequences and ways to prevent it in schools. I started this work in 1993 and realize to my dismay that I could never make a living doing bullying prevention work. Schools are struggling to raise test scores; and, Read the rest of this entry »
Sep
29

Teaching Nouns: Teacher in the Trash?

Filed Under (Differentiated Instruction) by sfitzell on 29-09-2008

Teaching Nouns with Humor


When I teach nouns to my resource students, I always begin with this concrete strategy. With a regular trash can in the front of my room I drop a pencil, book, eraser, etc into the can. I then tell them these are all “things”, and all “things” are nouns! I then step into the can and let them know that a teacher is a “person” and a “person” is a noun. They laugh and laugh and Read the rest of this entry »
Sep
28

Teaching Tips from my Audience!

Filed Under (Differentiated Instruction) by sfitzell on 28-09-2008

 

Fearless Fractions


Fearless fractions: grades 4-9. Teaches teachers how to use color to introduce the addition and subtraction of fractions and mixed numbers. Each fraction has its own color as in Rainbow Fraction® Teaching System. Fractions cannot be added or subtracted until they become the same color (common denominators). Ratios, probability, percents, proportions, and making predictions Read the rest of this entry »
Sep
27

Thank you Northeast Regional Education Coop (Rec 4) from Las Vegas, NM

Filed Under (Differentiated Instruction) by sfitzell on 27-09-2008

Presented Differentiated Instruction Strategies

Tuesday, I presented “A Differentiated Instruction Strategy Blast” at a conference held by the Northeast Regional Education Coop (Rec 4) from Las Vegas, NM. We had a great day discussing strategies for differentiating curricula and how it can raise student test scores and encourage success for both students and teachers. They were a fabulous group with … Read the rest of this entry »
Sep
13

Get Your Teacher Website Noticed!

Filed Under (Co-Teaching, Differentiated Instruction, Random Topics, Response To Intervention) by sfitzell on 13-09-2008

I spent today at the National Speaker’s Association of New England program in Natick, MA. Steve Mertz, SEO Speaker, presented my kind of seminar: It was loaded with strategies to get my teacher resource website noticed! I’ve been trying to find ways to get my website noticed by teachers looking for co-teaching, inclusion, differentiated instruction, RTI, etc. strategies. My site offers many web resources and down-loadable tools. Today, it was affirmed for me that blogging is a great way to get the word out about websites.  For more… Read the rest of this entry »