Excellence in Education: Major Points in A
Lecture
I’ve seen several
examples of this strategy used by several teachers, and based on a couple of
conversations with teachers I’ve had recently I wanted to share it with
everyone.
First, please allow
me to explain the conversations frequently centered on teacher frustration with
students not taking notes during lectures. While we each have different
strategies: guided notes, PowerPoint presentations posted on BlackBoard, etc.
the simplicity of this strategy works in all instances.
- At the beginning of the lecture the teacher briefs the students on the key points of the lecture (somewhere between 3-6 ideas). This, of course, is a great way of sharing the learning target with the students!
- Students are then responsible for completing an outline or a graphic organizer (web diagram, chart, etc.) for each of the main points. With younger students, it may be beneficial to discuss ways for students to organize their notes.
- After conclusion of each main point, students may be given time to jot down key ideas, to think-pair-share, for formative assessment, etc.
Excellence in Education: PEEL Graphic
Organizer
A highly rigorous,
college-prep class requires students to analyze and support their analysis with
facts and reasoning. The PEEL strategy is a graphic organizer that can be used
by itself, as a pre-writing strategy (especially DBQs and other shorter, social
studies essays), in preparation for a class discussion/Socratic Seminar, or more.
Simply, it’s a great way to get students started because it helps them
determine a main idea and find supporting details.
What is PEEL?
PEEL stands for
Point-Evidence-Explanation-Link
Point: provide an opening statement for your argument
Evidence: provide
evidence (this can be direct quotes, facts, etc.)
Explanation: explain
the evidence through purpose and context
Link: a statement
that links back to the main point
Here’s a link to a
PEEL Graphic Organizer: http://teachingrocks.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/peel.making.connections.pdf
Administrative Notes
Hall
Coverage: We must do a better job of being in the hallways before
school, between classes, and after school. àThis is a blanket (shotgun-type) statement that I try to
avoid, but I feel comfortable making it because I’ve tried to thank teachers
who I consistently see in the hallway. It really needs to improve! In addition
to being a student safety issue, I’ve blogged about other reasons to greet
students at the door http://goo.gl/kMh3xA We
understand that things come up at the end of the class and that often you need
to prepare something for your next class, but please make a concerted effort to
be in the hallways. Thanks!
Flex
tomorrow.
Learning
Walks on Wednesday.
Open
enrollment meeting : Thursday
Positive Referral
Link: http://goo.gl/s0KXRB
Work Order Request
Form: http://goo.gl/H7hFwK
Comment Box: http://goo.gl/forms/KAHNoGf5D2
Some upcoming dates:
April 18: Prom (Chaperones
needed)
April 30: Honor Breakfast
(Top Decile)
May 17: Scholarship Banquet
May 18: Senior Picnic
May 26/27: Now sent in
stone: Senior Exams
May 29 @ 6pm: Graduation
Some upcoming edcamps
(opt-out credit can be earned):
May
9: Edcamp MetroDC (Potomac, MD)
April
18: Edcamp Delaware (Wilmington)
Worth Your Time
Support
Struggling Students and Help Them Develop Better Attitudes : An article
from Robyn Jackson, author of Work Smarter, Not Harder, including some good
tips about redos, retakes and instilling a growth mindset.
Three
Simple Ways to Differentiate Instruction While differentiation might be the
theme of the article, it really includes great instructional ideas that
transcend beyond differentiation.
What
the ‘thoughtless’ New York Government Just Did to Teachers : Be glad you’re
not in NY, even though they pay well.
