Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Rivesville: Literature Circles

"I learned about Literature Circles - a great way to put literature in the kids' hands and get them to delve deeply into the books (and enjoy them)."

"Great presentation!  Very nice, Katrina!"

"I liked the "talking sticks" and the roles for Literature Circles, and I see a lot of value in how they would rotate so everyone gets to do each role."

Katrina Wilson

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Fairmont Senior High School: Question Formulation Technique

"Fabulous job!  Questions are the key to an unknown world!"

"QFT was excellent! Great ideas!"

"QFT is a great way for students to take ownership and direct their own learning." 


Adrin Fisher and Mary Adams

Jayenne: RACE Strategy


"R.A.C.E. for constructed responses - I loved this!"

"Jayenne's opening video was a great attention grabber!"

"R.A.C.E. is great!"



Thursday, March 30, 2017

Rivesville: Teaching Theme to Middle Schoolers

"I like the idea of using pieces of text evidence to support theme statements.  This works on two important skills!"

"I loved the strategy and the engaging visual presentation!"

"Topic + insight = theme!"

Jacob Moales



East Fairmont High School: G.I.S.T., Article of the Week, Socratic Seminar and Vocabulary Charts

"I will definitely be trying the G.I.S.T. strategy - it looks like a powerful tool for student-driven analysis."

"I plan to use the visual vocabulary strategy.  I want the vocabulary pictures book!" 

"Being sure to embed part of the vocabulary word into the picture is the extra step that will help my students remember what the words mean."


Melissa Garrett and Wendy DeVault 


East Fairmont Middle School: Strategies to Use Throughout the Writing Process

"Love the OREO strategy!  I will use this in my class!"

"I want to use RAINBOW REVISION for my writing process, and SWAG is a fun way to teach opinion writing!" 

"I loved that EFMS had simple strategies that set up students for success throughout the year....OREO, SWAG, Rainbow Revision, No Red Ink!"
Bobbi Brand and Rachel Hullderman



Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Monongah Elementary: Daily 5 and Accuracy


"I really liked the accuracy strategies." 

"I loved the secret stories.  I really want to use that next year."



Mark Fisher, Kristin Hess and Heather Suarez 


Fairview Elementary: Play Based Phonics Strategies

"Phonics goodness!"

"What do I need? More Fairview folks training us on phonics!"

"There is a strong correlation between what our hands hold and what our minds comprehend."
  "Thanks for the games!"

Andrea Layman, Andrea Price, and Caitlin Kolar 

East Dale: QAR

"East Dale's presentation was awesome!  WOW, how resourceful!"

"What did I learn?  QAR color codes and the vertical planning/scaffolded approach to QAR."

"In the book or in my head cards...this is excellent!"


Christina Zukowsky and Debra Wilson
       

Thursday, March 2, 2017

West Fairmont Middle School: Motivation and Self-Directed Learning Using Newsela, Story Elements and Graphic Organizers

"This was great information....I learned about Dinah Zike's information on book reports and clever foldables!"
"I learned new ideas for book reports and for using Newsela.  I liked the annotation tools!"
"The photostory idea for an independent book report is a tremendous idea!" 

WFMS Presenter Cassie Levelle

WFMS Presenter Jackie Constable
Photostory Book Report: 

bk report from Sherry Copley on Vimeo.

West Fairmont Middle School- Jackie Constable and Cassie Levelle
Grade 6: Informational: Newsela
Grade 8: Literary: Story Elements Graphic Organizers
Materials: iPads/computers, Direction sheets, and Rubrics

Strategies Used:
Comprehension Monitoring- thinking about what students are reading. This strategy helps students become active readers and find a purpose for their reading.
   
Motivation and self-directed learning- the ability to provide students a choice of materials on individual reading ability levels, as well as materials that connect cross-circular components to peak student interest while enhancing literacy skills.

Procedure for Story Elements Graphic Organizers
Throughout the year, independent reading is assigned for each nine-week period. During that time, the elements of literature is scaffold throughout the various independent reading projects which the student has selected from a list that’s been provided to them, or by teacher consent. Books are based on their independent Lexile numbers and individual interests. *See teacher folder

Procedure for Newsela:
·   The teacher will create an account using newsela.com.
·   The teacher will assign an article to read for each class.
·   The teacher will create individual classes and students’ usernames/passwords.
·   Students will log on with their usernames/passwords.
·   Students will go to their “Binder”.
·   The teacher will instruct students on which article to choose.
·   The teacher will then instruct students, individually, on the changing of Lexile numbers.
·   Students will read the article (individually/or in stations), while completing the quiz and 

     writing portion.

Links to Resources:
·   Newsela.com
·   Teacher made materials (see folder)

Data of Effectiveness of the Implementation of Strategy using Acuity

Grade 6
Class Fall Average: only 33% (analyzing) and 33% and 29% (central idea- two-part question)     
of students answered the questions referring to informational texts correctly.   
Class Winter Average: 74% (analyzing) and 74%, 95%, 63% (central idea- three answer   
    choice question) of students answered the questions referring to informational texts 
    correctly.
Growth of Proficiency: Fall- 43%, Winter- 74%
Range 2: Fall- 48%, Winter- 21%
Range 1: Fall- 10%, Winter- 5%


Grade 8
Growth of Proficiency: Fall- 72%, Winter- 93%
Range 2: Fall- 24%, Winter- 7%
Range 1: Fall- 5%, Winter- 0%


We have learned…
We have learned that data analysis is the best way to improve student achievement with teacher made and data driven resources when examining student growth.

Barrackville: Choice Board Strategy

"Reading independently and student choice are key."
 The Choice Board strategy is awesome!  Thank you for the ICE strategy.

"I really liked the infographic about reading 20 minutes at home!"  
Barrackville Presenter Allyson Perry



More resources for ICE paragraph writing from Read Write Think: 

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson-docs/Key_Elaboration.pdf

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson-docs/Samples_Model_ICED_Paragraphs.pdf

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson-docs/Building_FullyICED_Paragraph.pdf

Monongah Middle: RUNNERS Strategy

"RUNNERS strategy.....LOVED IT!"
 "I liked the example of using the IAB as class discussion."

"I loved your comment about building stamina for longer reading assignments!"
Monongah Middle Presenter Jennifer Green

Monongah Middle Presenter Kate McConnell

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

East Park: Making Inferences

"Wonderful!  I really like the inferring comprehension strategy!"
"I learned to use the 2-column notes for inferences (In the book -In my head) and comprehension scaffolds for guided reading."
"Jan Richardson's guided reading flip book - awesome!"

 
Tyisa Stewart, Beverly Richardson, and Michelle Talerico

White Hall: Concept of Word Games

"I love Cindy's word games and her word game storage!" 
White Hall Presenter: Cindy Gouzd

Watson Elementary: Fluency Task Cards

"I loved having premade fluency task cards and posters! Wonderful! 
Thanks, Watson!"
"I want more information on the clinical groups!"   
Watson Presenters: Alyssa Grubler, Rachel Kellar, Mary Noland

Blackshere: Movement is the Way to Learning

"I'll share the Heidi Songs with our K-1 teachers.  They'll love it!"
"Very nice!"

Blackshere Presenters: Theresa Michael and Judy McCoy

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Welcome!

Stay tuned!  

Our team is working hard - researching and preparing presentations on evidence-based strategies.  We will post what we learn here!