Don't Fear Feedback on Failure - Teach Like an Athlete & Tools for Teaching: The Amazing Sticky Note
The highly effective teacher gives frequent, ongoing, meaningful feedback to students and creates opportunities to receive feedback from students about the effectiveness of his or her instructional practice. Now that we are a few weeks into the school year, it's probably a good time to remind ourselves of the importance of feedback - in particular, that feedback from student to teacher. When the student has an opportunity to give feedback about his/her learning and understanding and can communicate this to the teacher, it promotes ownership of learning -- something that's even more important in maximizing student achievement.
I have selected two items for you this week. The first is a brief video clip featuring Grant Wiggins who reminds us of the importance of that feedback we get from students about their learning and understanding. The second item is a blog entry from Edutopia that offers a creative solution for collecting feedback from students using "sticky notes."
"This week, I watched a science teacher use sticky notes in a very creative way. To check for understanding, the teacher gave each student a sticky note and asked each of her science students to give concrete examples of the vocabulary that they had learned in class. As the students exited the classroom, they placed the sticky note on the door. After the students all left the classroom, the teacher collected the sticky notes and was able to tell right away which students understood the concepts and which ones needed some targeted assistance."
Flipping Parent Communication?
Recently, we have shared articles on both the flipped classroom and and the flipped faculty meeting. My selection this week comes from Peter DeWitt, Principal of Poestenkill Elementary School in New York.
"Too often we leave our communication to monthly newsletters or school wide e-mails. There are many changes happening in education, so flipping the communication I have with parents offered me an opportunity to let them know what is going on."
Families enjoyed the approach, and Dewitt plans to continue the flipped communication for upcoming PTO meetings; Special Events; State Assessments; and any other Educational Issues.
"Too often we leave our communication to monthly newsletters or school wide e-mails. There are many changes happening in education, so flipping the communication I have with parents offered me an opportunity to let them know what is going on."
Families enjoyed the approach, and Dewitt plans to continue the flipped communication for upcoming PTO meetings; Special Events; State Assessments; and any other Educational Issues.
Practical PBL: Design an Instructional Unit in Seven Phases
Project-Based Learning is a district CIP initiative that we have embraced for a number of years now. Each fall, a new cohort of 100+ elementary and secondary teachers participate in two days of professional development from out-of-state PBL experts. The three follow-up sessions are where the local experts shine: small groups of Hilliard teachers share out the units that have been created collaboratively and solicit feedback from their colleagues. Tweaks are made then units are published on eCampus for all Hilliard teachers to benefit.
The training for our newest cohort is about to begin in late September and early October. The article, "Practical PBL: Design an Instructional Unit in Seven Phases" is a nice overview for those new to PBL or refresher for educators in cohorts of past years.
Five Reasons Why YouTube Rocks the Classroom
In light of our recent acquisition of YouTube access, you may find this to be applicable to you, your staff members, and what you do for students in your building each day. “Five Reasons Why YouTube Rocks the Classroom” simply shares the results of a gathering at Google’s Seattle office for the YouTube Teachers Studio. A Google Certified Teacher and Apple Distinguished Educator shares five major reasons why YouTube is a terrific tool for the classroom.
- 1. Inspire students well beyond the four walls of the classroom by being part of the shift created by the digital revolution.
- 2. Have more access to your students and make yourself more available via the flipped teaching technique. As video changes classrooms everywhere, make sure yours is part of the mix.
- 3. Reach audiences of millions as you connect, collaborate, and innovate.
- 4. Customize videos! YouTube now allows online video editing.
- 5. Assess your students with open-ended “video quizzes” that contain live links that can potentially connect them to more information or review when they give incorrect responses.
Check out the videos embedded in this article, and consider the endless list of possibilities for our
teachers and students. Just another reason why it’s great to teach and learn in the Hilliard City
Schools!
10 Ways to Build a Culture Like Apple
After the recap discussion we had thursday regarding our administrative retreat I wanted to share this one article about Apple's culture. Dave Stewart was discussing the desire to have our staff members feel the way the apple employees feel about apple, when talking about Hilliard City Schools (or your building specifically). This article provides a list of 10 ways to create that type of culture. I encourage all of us to look through the list and check off ones that you do effectively and ones that you need to work on. Talk with your building leadership team and and make a plan to continue your successes and build on the weaknesses. Wouldn't it be powerful to have a video created of your staff talking about the powerful culture they work in each and every day.
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