September+20,+2011

The agenda for each session will be to review reading strategies and discussion of curriculum alignment.

7:30-8:00 FCS/Business/Music in the FCS room Sharing wikispaces.com

Challenges:

When following text, some students are finding it difficult to stay on target with where they are in the text. Need strategies to develop focus on the text. What strategies work with students who struggle with attention. Staying on task with text so that students are able to follow directions to complete a task.

8th grade is particularly challenged.

Student with anxiety has perceived lack of confidence related to unfamiliar content. Even with prompts and suggestions she moves into a 'panic' response (freezes, shuts down). Have tried to give her 'previews' and find her strong in areas of confidence. Plays piano, learning guitar and is apprehensive and scared to play to performance level. She was given a week to choose a song. In art she is able to complete the projects so far this year and they are previewing up coming projects.

Strategies for students with low reading confidence and ability with attention concerns (medication has bad side effects). Has trouble with focus and waits for someone to read it for him.

Reading buddies started between 7th and 8th graders paired with K, 1, 2 grades students. Will go for this semester. Focused, successful with relationship, older students are demonstrating pride from the collaboration. Older students select an appropriate text and once a month they will have shared/buddy reading time. 7th graders are really struggling with the change.

8:10-8:50 Math/Social Studies in the math room

Youtube is blocked and prohibited at this site and teachers need video media available that is unblocked, high quality, content 'organized', with instant access. Some teachers have easier 'find' topics than others. For example, Am. History is easy but govt and civics is tough. Videos on the other stuff is boring and needs to be current and relevant to today's students.

Math: Motivation remains a challenge. 8th grade students are doing fine in Math.

7th grade group could be described as a 'slow going' group - hard to know whether to slow down or push though. Seem very immature with only 2. Classes missed for athletics. Looking for ways to rotate students so that there is consistency. In SS, 8th grade is doing projects as much as possible in jr. high (flashcards, posters) and they are good about working in partners. For student with 'content panic' issues, Social Studies watches for challenge point (doesn't know that right answer, certain new things) and has noticed panic abates with 'correct answer'. Patterns in the class help her feel comfortable. Has improved over time. Really smart. Self confidence appears to be an ongoing issue related to performance.

11th grade struggles with sharing out in class. They talk socially, are very respectful, but when it comes to discussion group and partner work they won't talk. Sr. group seems to be enthusiastic to participate but 11th appears to hold back and seem embarrassed to be opened up to criticism. One student expresses herself but seems to hold others back when she is present. Might intimidate others?

9:00-9:50 Science in the science room

ESU 10 has a portable planetarium - do we have access to anything like that?

Building relationship with upper level students, more conversations, small groups, more opportunity for discussion, less intimidated.

10:00-10:50 Language Arts in hs English room

Struggling readers in 8th grade (about 4, 3 more so than others)

Poker chip accountability game (for sharing out in class); notebooks to write the answer - then share the answer; short answer strategies for sharing out

Curriculum alignment

Role of para's in a classroom across the board? How do we support what their expectations are? How do we use their strengths?