Authentic Learning
Guided Piano
From the Desk of Melissa… What if we taught piano lessons like we do reading? “Alright, we are ready for our lesson today. To begin I am going to show you the notes in our song and play them. You are going to tell me what they are.” “Now you are going to see these…
Read MoreTeaching to the Test: Just Say No
From the Desk of Hope… According to many people, teaching to the test is unavoidable and those who opt not to succumb to the pressure will reap harsh consequences under tough accountability systems. I was at a school this week in which a principal told her staff that if she saw test preparation in the…
Read MoreTest Prep
From the Desk of Hope… Anxious. Frustrated. Unmotivated. Worried. These are all adjectives that describe the behaviors I see in some lessons centered around test preparation. Teachers feel tremendous pressure to prepare students for high stakes tests. In response they spend considerable time (sometimes months) before the test on test-like items and teaching test-taking strategies.…
Read MoreAmanda's Perfection Paralysis
Amanda’s TO DO Lists September 15, 2011 Do invoices Pay tutors Finish feedback Write blog for ERG October 1, 2011 Staff development activity Prep for ERG meeting Bank deposits Finish schedules Write blog for ERG November 18, 2011 Reschedule dates for 2 schools Contact principal about new project Make list for Thanksgiving Write…
Read MoreAuthentic Instruction
From the desk of Hope… I had an interesting conversation with a teacher about “authentic instruction.” As I reflect on the conversation several days later, I believe it is worth writing about. As a literacy coach I model lessons for teachers, I observe teachers and I also provide written and verbal feedback to teachers. The…
Read More