I started to subtitle this, "Thanks, Captain Obvious!" but I won't. This chapter shows how vastly different the mindsets of elementary and secondary teachers are. I found this when I taught middle school: People with elementary licenses teach children. People with secondary licenses teach content.
Which isn't necessarily bad. I mean, you really wouldn't want me teaching chemistry...
A number of the strategies Gallagher suggests we should add to our teaching repertoire are exactly the things most elementary teachers are working.
Still, there were some things to think about. I tend to do my teaching with my read-aloud. Each kid has a copy; we notebook and blog our way through it, then, hopefully, transfer the skills learned to book club reading. However, how well am I framing the book club books? Am I doing as much as I can to catch the one in the group that's struggling with a particular book?
So, I've got a new plan, but it's going to have to happen as we go. For our book club books:
* What essential question(s) will become blog posts? Decide this before the kids start and let them know what they/it will be.
* Let the kids know the value of the book they've picked. Besides being 'good', what can they expect to learn about becoming teenagers? About citizens?
* What places are good for second and third reads? This makes a lot of sense and would let me streamline my guided reading, which already happens in book clubs anyway. Do we really need read aloud and book clubs and task cards and interactive notebooks? Not all of the time. I should figure out where things overlap and make some changes.
What's scary is that I'm an advocate of student choice in reading and I own a helluva lot of book sets. Yeah, I've got my work cut out for me! I think it will be worth it.
So, I understand that our Whimsical Teacher is off to Vegas this week! Nonetheless, she's got her last stop on the hop all ready. Learn lots, Jessica! (And now the teacher becomes the student...) May the Force be with you!
Is this your first stop on the hop? Head back to the beginning! It's here
Thanks, Captain Obvious! - I have to say I was thinking the same thing when I read this chapter!
ReplyDeleteI definitely need to streamline too. Figuring out what makes the most sense to focus on for each novel is where my mindset is at the moment. Quality vs quantity.
Kim
Quinnessential Lessons
Agree, figuring out how to best use each novel will be a chore. I have a feeling it will change from year to year as the students needs change.
ReplyDeleteAgree, figuring out how to best use each novel will be a chore. I have a feeling it will change from year to year as the students needs change.
ReplyDeleteI have been spending the summer reading through my read alouds for next year and have been trying to chunk up the book into parts and develop my essential questions. The chapter helped to validate what I've been up to. So, ditto on streamlining instruction for next year.
ReplyDeleteAngela
The Organized Plan Book
I tend to do my teaching with my read-aloud. Each kid has a copy; we notebook and blog our way through it, then, hopefully, transfer the skills learned to book club reading.
ReplyDeleteI do this as well! (Minus the blog) Do you do kidblogs.org? That's a great idea.
Do we really need read aloud and book clubs and task cards and interactive notebooks? I got worn out just reading that sentence. Imagine how the kids feel! I always feel a lot of pressure to incorporate the next cool strategy too.. every PD we have it's like "try this! try that!" Sometimes you wonder how much is too much?
Excited for your wrap up next week!
The Whimsical Teacher