Lynelle, Mary Helen, or anyone else, What are your scores like on the reading assessment? I am curious because mine have been low and the pressure is mounting. I teach using strategies and use lots of literature circles and reading workshop. I love the thinking, true thinking that I see in my classroom and would never trade my strategies for a basal or more test prep, but I feel that I'm going to be forced to change something. This year I worked in a coach book lesson that I thought would tie in whatever I was teaching, hoping for a slightly more authentic approach to getting them ready for the test. I spent the weeks leading up to the test teaching the format and trying to prepare them, which is a huge waste of valuable educational time. I'm wondering if I should buy the Toolkit myself or try to talk someone in administration into buying it for me. I have done everything I know to teach authentically and to stay true to what I believe. I hate the testing pressure and am truly at a loss as an educator. Can you give me any direction as far as a connection between testing and the Toolkit. I feel so shallow asking that, but I think anyone in public education, especially in a testing grade would understand.
Thanks a bunch! Mary 5th grade/PA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lynnelle Winter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" <mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> Sent: Friday, June 27, 2008 7:34 AM Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] RIT with Stephanie Harvey continued... > Mary Helen, > > Our school district just adopted the Toolkit as our reading program. (My > school is in year 3 of the reader's workshop with the strategies.) However, > I met with a group of ladies from another site who had gone to the training > with Stephanie Harvey's Consultant and it was fabulous! I sat down and asked > them what questions they had for me. Many of them were very thought > provoking. Some of them were very simple. Our district is relatively new > with the PLC idea, but having been a curriculum instructor and a classroom > teacher I have learned the best approach for me is "What can I do to help > you with this new idea?" My advice would be to allow the participants who > need to make "small steps" that opportunity. If there is one thing I learned > as a curriculum instructor it is not every goes "full throttle" with a new > idea like me! :-) Your enthusiasm for this will also lead! Many people see > our passion and excitement and usually they will grab on!! Good Luck!! > > Lynnelle Winter > 5th Grade West Intermediate > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Mary Helen Chappetto" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Listserv" > <mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> > Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 10:04 PM > Subject: [MOSAIC] RIT with Stephanie Harvey continued... > > > >I just spent 2 fabulous days learning from Stephanie Harvey along with 14 > >staff members from my school. The only other school that out-numbered us > >was Ginger's....Liberty! Way to go! > > I had a great conversation with Ginger (so nice to put a face with the > > name!) It was like meeting a 'rock star'! My staff did not understand my > > excitement because they are new to mosaic...I hope some of them have > > signed on to learn! > > As I told Ginger, I have been a "lurker" on the site, was off for a while, > > but have been back for a bit....reading and trying to refresh and > > learn/relearn about the strategies. Now I am officially a 'poster'! > > Hearing Stephanie Harvey speak and feeling her passion was incredible. I > > would love to know if there are any 'newbies' out there who are just > > getting started and others who are veterans who can support the newbies in > > the quest to be better teachers of thinkers. > > I think of the great conversations that happened upon the release of both > > Mosaic and STW last summer as well as To Understand by Ellin Keene this > > summer.....the book conversations were and have been, as always, > > thoughtful. > > What I wonder....for those of you that have been part of the growth of a > > professional learning community using Comprehension strategies, and have > > witnessed the positive impact, would you share the approach you took? Is > > there anything in particular you did to get started? What is the one > > piece of advice/experience/wisdom you would share for those of us just > > embarking on this venture? What obstacles did you face and how did you > > face them? > > > > Mary Helen > > _______________________________________________ > > 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. > > _______________________________________________ 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.
