Since having about a week to reflect, view YouTube clips, and figure out how to best use in my classroom, I am just as tired as I was at the end of Chris's session. There is no doubt that repetitive movements and words are great to help aid with retention of skills/facts while having fun. I think I will really have to pick and choose at first as to what to implement into my own teaching. I really liked the "games" we played with recognizing sight words and the scoreboard. I can certainly see and understand how I will start using the "Biffytoons" in my classroom and implement them or some version from the beginning of school.

 out of  found this valuable. Do you find this valuable?    

"Donna shared that a proficient reader in 8th grade needs 50,000-80,000 words along with background knowledge. This will have quite an impact on whether or not a student is a successful reader in my 10th grade Global Studies course. It leads to the need for me to include vocabulary and general background information when presenting new concepts in the course. Chapter 5 will be a resource for further information."

After reading your dilemma with 10th graders, the need for vocabulary and background by the time they get to grades 11 and 12 will be a priority in an abstract physical science area.

 out of  found this valuable. Do you find this valuable?    

"Beverly had some great, great ideas! She makes it sound so pracitical and easy with step by step directions. I do believe she is the best yet.

Again, the theme is core instruction is where it is at! "

I agree what she said with respect to the classroom, it begins with quality teaching.

 out of  found this valuable. Do you find this valuable?    

"I like hearing from someone with a secondary focus. In this case, I especially like Dr. Brozo's idea of making Rti = Responsive Testing and Instruction. This adjustment may help some teachers realize that Rti, like many other initiatives we see, is an attitude and approach to teaching and not simply a bag of tricks to use."

I agree with you I thoroughly enjoyed his approach that we must embrace the RtI and not think of it as another initiative that we do for a while and then forget.

 out of  found this valuable. Do you find this valuable?    

"One of the aspects of teaching that I have always loved is the " Challenge" of doing what is best for all of my students. I was happy to see that research supports the qualities that I have learned to know as those of a " Good Teacher". I am concerned that our current funding problems will force the approach from an RTI team approach for intervention to a classroom teachers approach which in the middle school will be MORE than a challenge. "

Lets hope that the students will come first. I know that is wishful thinking, but I will continue to do what is best for all my students as you will.

 out of  found this valuable. Do you find this valuable?    

"I agree with Barbara that part of building collaboration in a building involves observing your peers teaching. This can be very powerful to share strategies that are working well along with what needs improvement. It takes a lot of trust and open-mindedness in order for this process to be successful, but the benefits can be astounding."

I agree with you that observing our peers can be very powerful. Our peers are some of the best people to learn from because we share similar concerns. If we were given the time to observe each other, then we could bounce ideas off of each other and share strategies to help make ourselves better teachers which would lead to greater success within our school.

 out of  found this valuable. Do you find this valuable?