tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36006583656024030302024-03-13T12:12:57.807-07:00Educational BootcampAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16924574316126954450noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600658365602403030.post-47908478365284392412016-04-05T07:05:00.000-07:002016-04-05T07:05:32.024-07:00Strategies To Combat Summer Learning Loss<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Common
Core State Standards (CCSS) have necessitated a change in the way students are
being taught and how classrooms are structured. It has been reported that 20-30
hours of instructional time is lost due to mandated testing nationwide. As a
result, schools need to be able to utilize their calendars after testing to not
only introduce students to upcoming content for the next year, but also
reinforce the skills that students are expected to have mastered for the current
year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It
is now becoming imperative that students advance to the next grade level with
all the necessary prerequisite skills for the current grade’s instruction as
there is no longer time to review material from the previous year. With
many schools ending testing by the first week of April, there is often 8-10
weeks of the school year left to accomplish these goals. As if the demanding
curriculum was not enough, it is said that about 1 to 3 months of learning loss
occurs over the summer break. Schools need to find ways to not only prepare
their students for the course work material to come, but also help them retain
the information that they have learned throughout the school year. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though
it may be difficult finding summer programs/camps that enrich students' minds,
there are a ways in which these goals can be achieved:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During
the 8-10 weeks after testing, introduce basic concepts students will be
seeing in the next school year that specifically build on the current
year’s skills<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Differentiate
instruction by reinforcing the current year’s concepts that need further
instructional time for some students so they will be prepared for the next
year<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suggest
summer practice resources that students can review during the school break
that will help them retain the concepts<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Get
parents involved in student learning over the summer<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Assign
practice material that students can complete over the break<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teachers
and parents can work together in order to ensure that students are prepared for
the year to come and are able to retain the information they have just learned.
With hundreds of websites and educational supplements dedicated to academic
excellence, and several geared towards the understanding of the CCSS, there are
many avenues to help keep your students on the right track.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A
reorganization of our educational system and a concerted effort from parents
and teachers can help students achieve academic excellence.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16924574316126954450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600658365602403030.post-78660885542704499272015-12-04T09:11:00.000-08:002015-12-04T09:13:12.947-08:00Trends in Data Driven Instruction<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 12pt;">Data driven instruction, the ability to analyze
student’s knowledge and respond accordingly, has been popularized since 2002
with the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act. Recent studies have shown
that this instructional model helps assess student learning needs and improve
instruction which helps drive school accountability. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 12pt;">Let us look more closely
at some of the trends in data driven instruction.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b style="line-height: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b style="line-height: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Increases
learning gains. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Educators</span><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> trained in a data-driven instructional model
are now leading some of the highest-improved/<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>achieving
schools in cities across the country. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">More and more, school districts,
administrators, and teachers recognize the integral role of data collection and
analysis in improving education.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 107%;">Fosters
school-wide improvement.</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> School leaders map out yearly data
calendars to inform the school community when the steps in the data cycle
occur. The plans organize assessment, analysis, and action so teachers can
maximize instruction.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b>Focuses
on quality assessments. </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Assessments are purchased and
created to reflect the rigor and format of the state tests to help guide
instruction and push beyond basic standards for mastery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Shifts
role of teachers and principals. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Teachers identify
specific challenges of individual students/groups of students and design
instruction accordingly. Principals monitor and support staff through tools,
resources, time, and training.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b>Activates
student learning. </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Students see their accomplishments and
better understand the role of assessments, standards, re-teaching, etc. for
academic success as progress is tracked using graphs/charts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Data driven instruction is more than a new trend as
it helps prioritize information and create worthwhile curriculum changes. It
brings educators together while making the experience engaging and beneficial
to all stakeholders. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16924574316126954450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600658365602403030.post-74086403385112880072015-11-10T06:21:00.002-08:002015-11-10T06:21:34.288-08:00IMPROVE LITERACY! or Fail to Improve Mathematics Scores by Sabrina Morgan of J&J Educational Bootcamp<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Double penalty? Are students being penalized for one subject
because of a weakness in another? With the performance standards written as
they are, all students are required to be literate in language in order to be
proficient in mathematics.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As data continues to reveal, readers scoring <i>below the basic</i> achievement level have
been shown to perform at a <i>basic level</i>
on the mathematics section of the state assessment. However, struggling readers fail to ever
demonstrate proficiency or advanced proficiency due to this weakness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The 2015, </span></i><a href="http://www.nationsreportcard.gov/reading_math_2015/#mathematics?grade=4"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">NEAP reports</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
reveal that only 67 percent of fourth-grade students were basic or above in
reading while 82 percent of the same population of fourth-grade students were basic
or above in math.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<i> </i>For
more than 15 years, the difference between <i>basic</i>
<i>level </i>reading and math scores has
been on average 14 percentage points. Yet, the same report reveals that only 36
percent of readers are <i>proficient</i>,
while 40 percent are <i>proficient</i> in
mathematics. When dissecting the reading
test scores for individual students, it becomes obvious that more than 95% of
the readers<i> </i>at <i>proficient levels </i>are also among the <i>proficient</i> in mathematics. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Standardized tests require elementary students to think
strategically through the use of logic and reasoning to address real-world
problems as an assessment for proficiency.
Studies show that most elementary-aged learners have not yet developed
the cognitive skills to comprehend certain abstract concepts embedded in </span><span class="hscoswrapper"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">the
real-world context of a problem</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. Generally, students begin to develop true
abstract thinking abilities between ages 11 and 14. Yet again, the underlined literacy skills are
a requirement for </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">proficient</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> on the state assessments at ages 9 through 11. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many of us remember a time when learning math included a
series of problems that we practiced repeatedly, with the word problems as
extra credit towards the end of the assignment.
During this time, you were truly assessed on mathematical abilities; you
followed a series of memorized steps. As a result, you either got the correct
or incorrect answer. In today’s world, this
is now classified as a <i>basic level of
achievement</i>. According to item
specifications, students must now be able to convert a word problem into a
mathematical equation, solve, analyze, and provide proof to support their
logic. In order to meet the educational
goals of such specifications, frustrated and overwhelmed teachers must master-mind
methods to accelerate cognitive development in the learners of their classrooms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">J
& J Educational Bootcamp has formulated a solution to this problem that
involves game play and journaling strategies. The solution is Math Bootcamp
Intervention (MBC). It provides products to help students interpret the
language of mathematics. MBC combines the foundational development of
mathematics (basic concepts, skills, and key words) with MBC Journaling
Strategies and practice activities to ensure that our struggling readers are
afforded the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of mathematics and
score at <i>proficient levels.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The four MBC Journaling Strategies are crafted
to help learners use pictorial, numerical, and/or symbolic representations to express
numerical operations and work best when coupled with daily journaling practice.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16924574316126954450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600658365602403030.post-33795588516978709202015-11-02T09:15:00.002-08:002015-11-02T09:19:45.301-08:00A Day in the Life of a Teacher <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Written by Sheri Spivey of J & J Educational Bootcamp </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A teacher rises early to get a start on his or her day
like so many other people. Their
contracted hours are 8:00am - 3:30p.m, however, if that was the only time they
put in to preparing for their classes, they would be woefully
unsuccessful. Many teachers arrive at
work 30 minutes to 1 hour before they are required to be there and stay 1-2
hours later than their contracted time. They know they are not getting paid for
these extra hours they spend at school, but they work for free just the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The job expectations
and stakes to show progress are higher for a teacher than ever before.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Teachers are expected to wade through reams of standards and teach students to
the “full intent” of these standards, while meeting the needs of the individual
student. An elementary teacher is
required to teach 5 or more subjects, being an expert in all of them. Teachers
are expected to “differentiate instruction”, which means they make sure that
every student is being instructed in a way that each student can be successful. If students have an Individualized
Educational Plan or are on a Response to Intervention plan (or BOTH), the
teacher must also keep documentation of the steps/lessons that have been taught
and how successful the student has been.
If the student is a candidate for other services, there is documentation
for that as well. Teachers are expected to communicate with parents, check
homework, write authentic feedback on assignments, create assessments, provide
meaningful center time activities, and write in-depth lesson plans that
document how the teacher meets the needs of the English Language Learners, some
who may not even speak English, and the special education student. The teacher
must maintain classroom management, counsel students, teach manners and social
nuances, and be a watchdog over their students for signs of neglect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Teachers are basically in SURVIVAL MODE most of the
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Many teachers begin their career $20,000-50,000 or
more in debt due to student loans, but make a salary that does not lend to them
even being able to maintain a household on their own salary. Many teachers will tutor after school, or
even work jobs like waiting tables, being a cashier at a grocery store, or have
a lawn maintenance business on the side, just to get by. I know a teacher who is a single mom that has
been working at Red Lobster for over 10 years and works every Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday waiting tables and </span>bar tending<span style="font-size: 12pt;">..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Teachers do all of this because they love teaching.
They will spend their summers off going to classes that they pay for in order
to become better at what they do. They will spend their own money to buy
supplies for students who have none, and copy paper and ink cartridges because
school budgets do not provide for the printing it takes to create
individualized lessons or run reports for their data folders they must keep for
each student. Some will spend their summer break writing lesson plans so they
can get ahead during the next school year, only to be told at the beginning of
the year the county had changed the way they want lessons planned or
instructed, so all that time they spent over the summer has been for
nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In a nutshell, teachers NEED OUR BOOTCAMP
PRODUCTS. We understand what they are
going through, what they need, and have created a product that solves many of
their problems. Our job is to communicate this to the powers that be in these
schools so that they will see the value of what we can do for them.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16924574316126954450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600658365602403030.post-40293741991761382772015-10-01T12:18:00.001-07:002015-10-06T13:40:34.022-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">What
Makes a Great Teacher?</span></b><span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A
good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of
learning. –</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> Brad Henry, former Governor of Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Great teachers leave a legacy. They captivate
student interest and make the subject material come alive. Among their
exemplary skills are the way teachers plan lessons, manage the classroom,
motivate/encourage achievement, adapt, and are team players.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> 1. Plan Daily Lessons: </span></b></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">They have well-constructed
lesson plans that outline tangible learning goals. These goals are based on school,
district, and state learning standards. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">A great teacher employs various
resources to invigorate lessons, and in turn, engage all types of students with
differing abilities and learning preferences. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Learning is positive and fun. Lessons
are carefully prepared to have a captivating introductions to grab student
attention. There is direct teaching of the skill/concept and continual guidance
throughout the instructional period so students can practice the targeted
skill/concept. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Students are encouraged
to ask questions and share connections, thus seeing the relevance. Student
learning is assessed throughout the instructional lesson, followed by closure
to sum up what was learned.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><b> 2. Manage the Classroom: </b></span></span></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">A
great teacher has a bag of management tools to guide behavior and
responsibility of all students. Clear classroom rules are enforced fairly and
consistently. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">The teacher is observant and chooses disciplinary techniques to
encourage positive behavior. Facial expressions while circling the room and
simple verbal reprimands help redirect student behavior. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Preferential seating
helps selected students to be more easily monitored. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">A face-to-face student conference can gain insights about the behavior and how,
together, there can be improvement. An individual contract may be developed that
lists the desired behavior and consequences to shape the behavior.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> 3. Motivate
and Encourage Achievement: </span></b></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">A great teacher is the eternal
cheerleader. They have a knack of knowing just how to motivate/encourage every
student to do their best. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">These teachers capitalize on individual
strengths/interests, while working to bring up weaker areas. They provide
immediate feedback and give praise frequently. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Student assignments are graded
in a timely manner. Student work is shared and displayed. Students play an
active role in goal-setting and self-assess some of their own work. They
contribute to data walls to further gauge individual, class, and grade level
learning progress. </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b> 4. A</b></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">dapt
to the Needs of the Students: </span></b></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">A great teacher is flexible.
For example, if something needs to be retaught or explored more in-depth to
meet the needs of students, then that takes precedent over following a time
schedule. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">They are patient, realizing that students learn in different ways.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 107%;"> 5. Be
a Team Player: </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Quality collaboration with
co-workers is important as a great teacher is open to share ideas to help other teachers
in their classrooms. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">They care about their leadership, colleagues, and the
entire body of students. They are not afraid to spend extra time and hard work to
help out.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great teachers leave a legacy. Their students
achieve at the highest level possible, and excel at being well-rounded
individuals who embrace life-long learning, and grow up to leave their own
legacies.</span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16924574316126954450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3600658365602403030.post-62303684240856730522015-09-03T09:27:00.002-07:002015-09-30T09:19:14.228-07:00Can playing games increase elementary science scores?<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"> The education system in the U.S. is becoming a hot topic of discussion between politicians, administrators, teachers, and parents alike. There is a need to deliver educational material in a fun way that allows students to retain the information. There is one program that seems to be proving just how possible that is. The Science Bootcamp program is paving new roads in the implementation of fun, education, and retention in science. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"> According to teachers and administrators across the State of Florida, Science Bootcamp, a series of curriculum-based science games, are dramatically improving science scores in their elementary school classrooms and on state standardized tests. According to one science teacher at Coral Reef Montessori in Cutler, Fl, "...the thing we find most extraordinary about Science Bootcamp is the layering of instruction... the program reaches the student by utilizing every angle so that no matter what the students's level or learning style, they end up not only learning science, but having fun with it too.." </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">Essentially, students are playing games and learning science simultaneously. One of the Bootcamp games, "Speed Bag", uses simple illustrations of science concepts, like photosynthesis, which the students compete with one another to see who can draw the science concept in 30 seconds or less. Science Bootcamp developers call this part of the game "building the frame of reference". By combining the frame of reference, built through repeated quick drawing of the concept, along with content constructed multiple choice questions and a written explanation tool, the students learn the concepts and retain it longer because they had fun doing it. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"> The Science Bootcamp Games are fast becoming recognized as the most effective way to increase elementary science aptitude. Just ask schools like Phyliss R. Miller in Miami Shores, which nearly tripled science test scores from 17% to 43% in its first year of using the Bootcamp games. Other schools like Henry S. Reeves Elementary, Three Points Elementary (Orlando,FL), and Poicianna Park Elementary (Miami) are just a few of the schools that are witnessing phenomenal results in science aptitude as a result of utilizing the Science Bootcamp Games. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;"> Given the latest news that U.S. students rank 23 in science proficiency, the growing consensus is that our conventional (traditional) teaching methods are simply not working, and that America's educational system needs to find new and innovative ways to improve our classroom approach. Science Bootcamp is proving to be a step in that direction.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16924574316126954450noreply@blogger.com0