EDUC 4454 – Class 19 P/J Methods Methods Principle: Planning & Enhancing Learning Bell Work: At...
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Transcript of EDUC 4454 – Class 19 P/J Methods Methods Principle: Planning & Enhancing Learning Bell Work: At...
EDUC 4454 – Class 19P/J Methods
Methods Principle: Planning & Enhancing Learning
Bell Work:
At your table create a list of items that teachers should take into consideration when planning instruction for split grades?
Introduction
Unit Planning is covered in-depth during EDUC 4294: Primary & Junior Social Studies
Scan the single & split grade units from sections #1-4 (2007-2008): http://www.nipissingu.ca/faculty/nancym/EDUC4294/sample-units.htm
Whether using the Ontario Curriculum Unit Planner (OCUP) or a template the same principles apply.
A Nipissing Unit Plan Template and Example: http://www.nipissingu.ca/primaryjunior/pjunitplantemplates.asp
Setting Up a Unit:
Units are created to meet a
Big Idea______________________________
__________________
_____
_
Theme Based, Strand Based, Skill Based or Concept Based
Setting up a Unit1. Decide on the big idea – enduring understanding
2. Think of an activity the students can do to demonstrate this big idea. This can take one class or a week if desired. Plan it out. This is the last class. How would you assess this? Make your assessment tool(s). How many expectations can you address in having the students do this?
3. Take the expectations you isolated – these each need to be taught - they become the expectations for the lessons in the unit
4. Plan the first class – an introduction – include brainstorming, a KWL, a large group web… Something to assess the students’ current knowledge and introduce the topic – also have a hook & introduce final culminating task (give out assessment tool)
5. What order will you tackle the expectations / lessons? Plan the order then start creating individual lessons. You can target other expectations which fit as well and can add these in as they occur to you.
(Wiggins and McTighe, 1998) Enduring Understanding
/ Expectations
Teaching
Lesson P
lanning
Same for
Unit Planning
Assessment
What I need to teach & how
I can teach it – The Actual Lessons
What they need to know before I can begin
CUMULATIVE CUMULATIVE TASKTASK
SUBTASKSSUBTASKS
PRIORPRIOR KNOWLEDGEKNOWLEDGE
Preassessment
Content & Strategies
Application
Connecting the planner or
template to what you already know
Big Idea
Prof. J. Pitt
Unit Planning Process - Summary Identify the grade. Identify the topic (expanded title to include intention to integrate) State Overall expectations Create a Guiding Question Create a Culminating Task. Brainstorm possible activities. Select those that will develop the learning needed to meet the
Overall Expectations Match each activity to specific expectations. What will be learned? Fill in any gaps (in addressing specific expectations) by designing
additional activities Deconstruct each activity and the culminating task (to identify all
sub skills that will need to be taught to ensure student’s success with the activity)
Identify the assessment strategy that will be used to assess success with achievement of the expectations
Identify the recording device that will be used to record achievement for each assessment device.
Reflective Practice Activity - Group
Think about the Classrooms that you have visited. Consider the following questions:
To what extent have you detected “Theme” (e.g. Topics, Seasons, etc...) planning for units?
What deviations (if any) have you noticed? Why might those deviations have occurred? How could you ‘unit plan’ for centres?
UNIT DEVELOPMENT IN SPLIT CLASSES
Reference:
Combined Grades: Strategies to Reach a Range of Learners in Kindergarten to Grade 6, Ontario
Ministry of Education and Training, 2007
Advantages of Split Grades
Social and academic advantages to combined or split grades include:
- students do better in the area of socio- emotional development
- students develop more positive peer interactions
- social skills develop better
- students do more collaborative and independent learning
- students display greater feelings of comfort and security, and show a more positive self-concept
- students show higher satisfaction with achievements
- there are more opportunities for student leadership
- academic performance is as strong as in single grade classes
- help teachers focus on students’ individual learning needs
“ The older students really get to know their stuff through explaining it, younger classmates get peer role models, and everyone learns the importance of helping people”
- Trish Snyder
Today’s Parent, 2005
Seeing the Differences Differently
Split classes are an opportunity to help students see and acknowledge the differences in their classmates and to see those differences as assets.
Students have more opportunities to see and understand that learning happens at different times for different people.
Factors to Consider in Organizing Classes1. Students’ needs2. Students’ interests3. Social skills4. Number of students in each grade5. Number of boys and girls in each class6. Student achievement in literacy and
numeracy7. Peer relationships8. Student strengths
Teaching Units of Study in Split Grades Two distinct approaches are possible:
1. The teacher addresses new learning to two different groups at different times.
2. Common units are built around “big ideas” or themes, while different specific content is addressed by each group.
Planning Considerations for Split Grade Units Align related topics and strands (Year at a Glance). Focus on related “big ideas” and common concepts
and skills. Consider commonalities that may be possible in
culminating tasks. Consider grade and student appropriate variations of
content, process, and product. Focus writing instruction on the conventions that will
be required for assessment tasks. Select common or related reading materials. Make connections among different subjects where
the two grades can be aligned.
Designing Unit Plans
Focus instruction on the “big ideas” or fundamental concepts and/or skills common to the two grades.
Look for common: - themes - big ideas/ guiding questions - skills - processes - strategies - products
Use Independent Inquiry Approaches The teacher becomes the guide.
Students research different topics with common themes.
Differentiate performance tasks for individual learning needs
Grade specific content can be studied.
HOW?
Focus on developing grade appropriate knowledge and skills
Vary content, process, and products. Use the same resources where possible to group
students by language skill ability. Plan common lessons. Follow the new learning portion
with different consolidation and application opportunities for each grade.
Teach responsively….Re-teach and restructure groups as needed.
Use jigsaw approaches and other cooperative learning strategies.
Teach similar lesson when possible (arts, P.E., health)
Seating in a Split Grade
Establish three distinct instructional areas in the classroom:
- lower grade students’ seating area
- upper grade students’ seating area
- class meeting area
Flexibility
Flexible seating use to respond to evolving needs is critical to managing flow of students in a split grade class.
Create easy access to learning materials. Establish strong routines. Ensure many times during the day when you
will be available for discussion with individuals from either grade.
Routines Early in the school year, establish routines for: - entry and dismissal - submission and storage of notes from home and daily
agendas - transitions - movement - problem solving for common occurrences ( e.g., bathroom
routines) - materials management - individual and buddy reading - book selection - procedures for handing work that is finished or not finished - options when work is completed - clean-up procedures - stages for reading and writing workshops - guided reading schedules - daily agenda
Anchor Charts
These provide references for students when you are busy with the other group.
Create them with students ( so they know what is on each one).
Print large enough so that each chart is readable across the room.
Common Anchor Charts
T-charts of social skills for daily practices such as partner reading, effective listening.
T-charts for work habits, problem solving, independent work.
Comprehension strategy charts ( sentence starters).
Sample graphic organizers.
Common Anchor Charts
Classroom rules and responsibility lists. Classroom helper charts. Class routine reminders. Reading strategy reminders. Alphabet lines/ number lines. Daily schedule. Word lists/word wall. Writing forms and conventions.
Common Anchor Charts
Writing elements or traits. Media techniques. Rubrics or criteria for achievement. Shape and pattern charts. Illustrations and/ or definitions of numeracy
terms. Higher level questioning prompts.
Formative Assessment
Use frequent assessments that allow you to gather information about the students’ development
Examples:
* reading records
* numeracy concept tasks
Planning For Differentiated Instruction Regardless of the student’s grade, he/ she
may have difficulty accessing grade designed materials because of variations in literacy development.
Teachers must have an awareness of each student’s “zone of proximal development” to plan for growth effectively.
Scaffolding
Teachers must support students’ learning to the level of need of each student.
Effective scaffolding requires that the teacher gradually shift the responsibility for the application of the learning to the student as their developing skills allow them to achieve with success.
Explicit Instruction
This is the first and strongest form of scaffolding.
Steps in explicit instruction include: 1. Clearly state the learning goals to the student. 2. Explain how the student is to accomplish the task. Support
memory of these steps by: - breaking the task into manageable steps - recording the steps for students to refer to as they work 3. Show students what they are to do ( model and exemplify). 4. Scaffold as students apply the new learning. Gradually
withdraw support to move students closer to successful independent use.
5. Provide regular feedback about progress.
Flexible Groupings
Allow for support to the level necessary, regardless of grade level.
Require larger blocks of time so that several variations are possible within a block.
The teacher strategically selects the use of homogeneous or heterogeneous groups, or individual conferencing to maximize learning.
Cooperative Learning
Gives students an opportunity to optimize
learning through purposeful talk.
Allows students to develop friendships that might otherwise not happen.
Students can experience the satisfaction that comes with helping others.
Mini-Lessons or Re-Teaching
Teachers lay out their year, month, week, and day to be prepared.
They lay out each lesson block to be flexible and responsive to students’ evolving needs.
Stages within a Mini-Lesson
1. Instruction of the whole class through a direct instruction approach (modeling).
2. Instruction for small groups or individuals- some students practice and apply new learning with strong scaffolding.
3. Instruction of the whole class- students come together again to share, reflect, and consolidate new learning, especially by applying new concept language to what they have done.
Choosing Learning Materials for Split Class In selecting learning materials, the teacher
needs to determine the materials in the context of:
- what is logistically manageable
- what materials are available
- what the purpose is for the materials
Choosing Lesson Problems
To create common problems across grades:
- examine common or similar expectations
- examine the core resource materials that are available ( e.g., math texts)
- adapt available materials so that they combine, extend, or integrate grade-specific goals
-anticipate several possible answers and approaches to the new problem ( anticipatory schema) so that you can be ready to scaffold each one
Consider All Possibilities
Regardless of grade level, students faced with a common problem, will group into some predictable categories as they attempt to solve the problem.
These include: 1. Same lesson problem, same problem prompts, same
range of students responses. 2.Same lesson problem, same problem prompts,
differentiated student responses. 3. Same lesson problems, differentiated problem
prompts, differentiated student responses. 4. Different lesson problems, different problem prompts,
different student responses
Management in a Split Grade
Plan lessons so that students are engaged in different parts of the phases of instruction at the same time.
EXAMPLE:
- Grade 3 students are involved in new learning
- Grade 4 students are involved in consolidation and application
Assessment in a Split Grade
Assessment is: - frequent - unobtrusive - authentic - respectful - related to individual growth
Recorded carefully!
Reflective Partner Activity - Planning
Look at the 3 (word doc) handouts included for this workshop; think about/discuss:
A. How could I use “A Model of Planning for Split Grades?”
B. How could I use the “Assessment Plan for Split Grade Classes?”
How could I use the “Assessment Record for Split Grade Classes?”
Group Discussion
Assigned Readings:
pp.150-156 on Unit Planning in CT & M http://www.ocup.org/units/units55.php
Look at the units for your upcoming practicum placement; how could you use this information during practice teaching?
After the presentation on OCUP, view the tutorial handout Powerpoint on using the Ontario Curriculum Unit Planner (OCUP).