Welcome to our book blog! All you need to do to add to the discussion is click on the tiny link that says "comment" below this posting and TYPE. When you're done, sign your entry and click "post comment" and VOILA!, it's done. Be sure to read others' thoughts that have come before you, creating a virtual Socratic Seminar!
So let's get started. I showed the book to my wife and I was not the least bit surprised that she knew of the book. Jay McTighe is the partner of Wiggins and together they are famous for their curriculum design known as backwards design (creating the final project/assessment, then developing the activities to get the learner to the skills/knowledge they need to successfully complete that project). We've been using this approach in science for a long time. Carol Ann is the queen of differentiation. This should be a great read! More importantly, it should offer good ideas to apply in the classroom.
Let's use this blog to share ideas, evaluate and improve our teaching, and communicate regularly and meaningfully. Best, you can do this whenever and wherever you like.
5 comments:
Personally, I feel overwhelmed by committees, advisement, and now, book club. How are we going to manage time in order to teach effectively and fulfill all the other work? We must work smarter to accomplish tasks in a timely manner. Be sure to focus on curriculum and do what works. I believe this book will provide useful ideas to improve practices and perhaps streamline and package what we do.
Chapter one defines DI and UbD and offers examples via Mr. Axelt. The use of this blog coincides with axiom 6 on page 9. In the case of our book review here, we have teachers from a variety of subjects, allowing a unique opportunity for cross-curricular collaboration as well as the opportunity to discuss the needs of particular students (given due discretion and anonymity).
Bundles are cool. Qwest has bundles. I saw a computer travel bundle at best buy. How can we bundle as teachers? What stratgies do you use that make differentiating instruction practical?
Fortunately, these authors are concise when writing which will definitely help us manage our time. I think studying the comparisons and parallels of DI and UbD will give us information to reflect on how we can and probably already are incorporating these into our teaching practices and strategies. Maybe we will even be able to refine our current practices.
Thanks Sue.
Big emphasis on getting to know students. Any ideas or suggestions?
What works for you, especially in terms of covering a number of bases
such as data, SGO's, communicating with admin & parents.
Terry, in response to your question about getting to know students, here is one thing I do. It's called "My Bag" and it is essentially a short show and tell. The students bring in 4-5 tangible items that represent who they are. Then they spend 3-5 minutes sharing their bag with the entire class. It really provides insight and helps me relate science concepts to their interests (i.e. chapter 2 of the book)
Post a Comment