Teacher Assistants are Instructional Assistants

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It goes without saying that your contribution to the school wide program is invaluable.  I see what you do in the areas of behavior management, clerical duties, and school upkeep. I would like to give you and opportunity to share some of the valuable things you are doing in the area of assisting with instruction. Sometimes these things may go unnoticed, and I don't want them to be unheralded.  I know you teach Guided Reading and Sonday, so perhaps you would like to share an innovative or effective strategy that you are using there, or anytime during the school day.  Toot your own horn for a minute, and perhaps a strategy you are using will help a colleague.  

You are an Instructional Assistant, and your work and efforts lend much to our students' progress!

*Click Reply to this post and then Publish your comment on your strategies as a provider of instruction.

Growing Professionally

We have had two wonderful presentations on student engagement.  I think when you hear and see other things that are working in the classrooms at your school, it is a shot in the arm, so to speak.  I have begun meeting with PLCs regarding data, and those discussions have been very productive as well.  Our data shows, that ALL that you are doing is working, most especially for our proficient students.  Remember, we must achieve growth with them all. We must engage and reach that most challenging group also.  Engagement is crucial to teaching and learning.  Teaching and learning facilitates growth.  In order to engage students, we must make them active in the learning process; to that end, they must be thinking and  problem solving. They must create products that reflect their knowledge and apply their skills.  These are the rudiments of the Common Core Curriculum and 21st Century Classrooms.  I am proud of the progress I am seeing with you as instructors, and of course with the students.   All we have done through the Round Table Discussions/Professional Development: Common Core, Essential Questions, Sustaining Feedback, HOTS, Response to Literature, Technology Integration, and Engagement have been so valuable in our efforts to create and implement 21st Century Classrooms. That was the vision I set forth during the opening days of school, and it is the core of our School Improvement Plan.

 I look forward to the remaining Engagement Presentations and the comments that follow.

*Please reply and then publish your comment to this blog on Growing Professionally, as well as any comments on the remaining two Engagement Presentations  (by clicking reply at the end of this post),

January Round Table

Hello Staff,
I am hoping that everyone who is interested in our students becoming critical thinkers will read and comment on this blog.  That is everyone at this school, so we should have a meaningful online discussion.  Remember, blogging is interactive.  You should comment or post, and then someone else comments or posts on what you said, or they comment on something in the content. From that, we learn and grow.  Just don't post something to comply with my asking you to do it. Instead, post something that will help your colleagues with their instructional practices.

Yesterday, we talked about designing our questions so that they stimulate thinking, not just answers.  My emphasis was on Sustaining Feedback.  That's a biggie with me. I look for it in every walk through and evaluation, as I think it is a  powerful teaching mechanism.  If I asked you, what your "definition" or "explanation" is of "Sustaining Feedback" , what would you say? Why is it important? How can HEQ(Highly Effective Questioning) become a part of your classroom culture? Also, comment on this quote from yesterday,  "Students are not underbrained, not undertrained." I look forward to reading your thoughts. Blog, Blog, Blog.

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Lets Blog About What We Learned

Hello Everyone,
Thank you to the participants in our first Principal's Round Table Meeting.  I thought the discussion was excellent, and I was so impressed with the various ways we are already using technology in our classrooms.  I hope you all learned something new to utilize as well as share with your PLC. Two points that I thought were crucial were those made about Interactive Technology and Rigorous Lessons.  I feel that if we don't have the children manipulate the technology and being active in the process, then this wonderful way of teaching will not be as effective.  I also think that any lesson should be rigorous. A well educated child is challenged. We have got to teach these children to think, problem solve, and operate at the highest end of Bloom's. I am also excited about all the places our students can visit, without leaving the classroom.  Their experiences are limited, and this will help to broaden their scope. We are on our way to establishing that 21st Century environment, that is full of 21st Century teachers.
 I invite you to blog about yesterday's Round Table, my commentary, or both.

My Blog Tutorial

I have just finished my Blog tutorial with Amy, and I have rudimentary skills in setting up and posting on the blog.  She will share some of these tips with the participants of the first round table, and then, they will share with all of you. I can't wait to discuss Best Practices. Our first discussion will be on Technology Integration.

Upcoming Roundtable

Our first roundtable will be October 23rd at 3:45. I am sending out invitations via email to the first group of participants. If you have been selected to participate bring web resources and good lesson plans that integrate technology.