Do you know Colleen Cruz's book "Independent Writing: One teacher, thirty-two needs, topics and plans"? I'm reading it right now and it does a brilliant job describing how to plan and teach toward independence. It's short and 100% practical. A great model to turn to for your writer's workshop.
Best of luck, Heather On Jun 21, 2007, at 1:37 PM, Keith Mack wrote: > I'm going to address some of the management issues. I'm not in the > classroom > right now, but I visit schools and classrooms as a substitute and > also as a > workshop presenter and consultant. So I'm probably in classrooms > about 10 > days a month. > > One thing I consistently see is teachers spending too much time > managing and > monitoring things that would be best left to the students or > student teams. > > For example I substituted several times this year in a "highly > capable" 5/6 > classroom. The good part, kids are expected to go through the > spelling lists > (and most other subjects) on their own. The bad part, the teacher > is the > person who tests kids when they are ready to "challenge" their > spelling > list. > > On my sub days, there was a line in front of me with 5-6 kids > waiting for me > to give them their test. I asked them to "pair up" and give each > other the > tests, but they wouldn't let that happen - "only the teacher can > give the > test Mr. Mack!" Yet these same kids self-assess and test all of > their math > work. > > In another 6th grade classroom I watched a teacher to buzz around > to EVERY > student in alphabetical order and ask them what page they were on > and if > they'd have their project ready for the next day (20 min.?). During > a break > I suggested that she allow student groups/tables to monitor pages/ > books read > and progress on projects using some sort of weekly (monthly?) sheet > that she > could pick up, review, and talk about when she visited the group at > their > table. > > So the bottom line is for your instructional team to pick the really > essential things - the things best left to highly qualified > teachers - teach > these and assess these. Then let the students self-manage most of > the other > learning "requirements". I preferred groups of three as it provided > that > built-in peer support network and heck; kids just need to talk > about things. > > > Lastly, you will need to get students well versed in classroom > procedures - > how to start class, make transitions, use work time, turn in > papers, etc. > One idea I really like is the idea of "work time" (WT) vs. "quiet > work time" > (QWT). > > Use WT for those student monitored things where you can go from > group to > group to check up (formative assessment) on how they're doing. This > is when > there's that buzz in the classroom from kids talking and working on > things > together. It's also the time for the teacher to be more > "transparent". WT > could be used for grammar, spelling, vocab, and even projects or > "required > work" in the anthology. > > Use QWT for SSR, individual conferences, reading inventories, journal > activities, and other individual and reflective elements you select > for your > students. > > A sample 60 minute schedule might be: > * Bell WT with team (5 min.): check in, booklogs, grammar/DOL, this > is a > daily routine and expectation that requires nothing from you to start. > * Direct Instruction (10-15 min): mini-lesson, strategies, reviews, > etc. > * Short Transition with reminders > * WT (20 min.)- teams/individuals work to complete self-monitored > assignments and group projects. Teacher engages in formative > assessment - > MBWA (Google it!) > * Short Transition with reminders > * QWT (15-20 min): SSR, Journals, Read Aloud, reflecting, more > MBWA, etc. > * Exit Questions/Review and Routine > > Keith Mack > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/ > mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
