To get started, please be sure you have read 'Entry Routine' on page 151 and 'Do Now' on page 152. I'll be checking in with each of you this week to set up regular meeting times each week and discuss the topics. I'll also be visiting your classrooms to support you in your journey.
Feel free to comment on this blog at any time. If you want to begin your own blog and don't know how, just ask me and I'll be happy to teach you. I am using some technology I'm learning in a class and its fantastic! I'm enjoying the learning and want to model for you how you could use it to interact with each other and your students as we progress through this book.
Please be patient with me and yourself as we learn. We are embarking on a process, not just working through a book. Enjoy it and share what you think and your experiences through this blog.
Let's learn and light fires!!!!!!!
i have finally established an effective "do now" routine! i have dedicated one side of my board to spanish 1 and the other side to spanish for spanish speakers, and i write "do now"s in the corresponding space in the morning and leave it there all day. it is much more efficient than running to the projector between classes to change the transparency. what amazes me is that after 6 weeks, i still have to remind some students to begin working. i am having problems establishing a good "entry routine". when i come into the class from hall duty, there are 3 to 5 students who are milling around, yet to sharpen pencils, get out notebooks, begin working, etc. pacing is also difficult because some students are beginning work up to 4 minutes later than others depending on when they entered the classroom. for an activity that takes 5 minutes maximum, there is too much down time for some students.
ReplyDeleteOctober 7, 2010 2:28 PM by A. Villanueva
Yea, I'm so glad you are applying what you are reading in your classroom. I agree with you about the warm-up being on the board easier than trying to turn the overhead on and off while using a transparency. I'm hoping that those students who are resistant to doing the "do now" will conform after they see you expecting it consistently over time. Do you have any other ideas for a different 'entry routine"? Have you asked any of the other teachers in our book study about what they use? Maybe changing the entry routine will enforce the idea that it is important for them to all be in their seats working on time instead of them entering class later than the others. Perhaps you could give some enrichment questions for those who complete the "do now" on time so they are engaged until you are ready to begin class? Just ideas, let me know what you think.
ReplyDeleteOctober 11, 2010 2:58 PM by Pam Bell
Having a warm up sheet that the students keep up with will get them students in the habit of completing the warm up upon arriving in class. I have a copy if anyone wants it for their classes.
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