Becky Anderson’s Education Blog

Happy Saturday!

Primary learning targets are skill-based to create objective assessment, however, they do not accurately portray the learning taking place.  So, how can formative assessments be standardized enough to document proficiency of subjective learning targets, such as those that require high level thinking?

Furthermore, how do we bridge the gap in understanding for parents when learning targets aren’t concretely assessed, such as ‘uses end punctuation’?

It seems to me that eportfolios would be the answer. Formative, reflective, authentic, 21st Century learning…Assessment AS learning.  It is the standardized piece that still has me thinking.

Notebook Know-How: Strategies for the Writer’s Notebook - Aimee Buckner; Paperback

Excerpt from the book: Katie Wood Ray (1996) writes about reading like a writer to improve writing craft.  Constance Weaver (2002) has said, for every minute we spend reading, we spend a minute learning about writing and spelling.  It’s a connection not to be ignored.

Previously, the purpose of this blog was to inform families of current events in the classroom, as well as share some of my educational philosophies.  Going forward, this blog will focus on solely on educational philosophies, trends, and my understanding/beliefs.

Check back for updates.

Thank you for coming today!  Please feel free to ‘poke around’ at my blog to see a reflection of a lot of the learning I have done as a direct result of this learning opportunity.  

A special thanks to my incredible facilitators, Ken Riley and Kathy Kramer. They have created an experience that can not be replicated.  I am forever grateful to both of them

http://www.mrsbogucki.com/aemes/resource/apps/madmath/madmath.htm

Ask your child about the HILARIOUS story we read today.  We used this story as a tool to engage us in practicing two literature circle roles.  These roles were, Awesome Artist and Quick Questioner.  Asking thought-provoking questions is a skill.  Those questions that can be answered by simply looking in the text are called, ‘text-based questions’.  They are referred to as thin questions.  Thick questions are questions that cannot be found in the text (inferential and critical thinking).  These are higher order questions that stretch our thinking, ideas, and create new meaning.  

Yesterday, each student chose a president to become an expert on.  Today, students used a graphic organizer, as a way to help focus their research as they read about their president.  First, students read through about twenty research questions.  Then, they highlighted ten of the questions they found most interesting.  These are the questions that will help focus, yet not define, their research.  Students can do research at home, however a majority of the project will be completed at school.  I will send out specific directions when/if any part of the project becomes a home responsiblility.

Wednesday, October 8 is the first Popcorn Day of the year.  The cost is 25 cents a bag.

We tried out our new macbook laptops today.  Students learned how to record video of themselves.  They practiced this by reading ‘to the computer’, then reviewing the recording.  This ties into our phrased and fluent focus on literacy.  Being phrased and fluent does not simply encompass reading at an appropriate speed, but foremost ‘reading like we talk’.  I read a story to the kids today in monotone, with no attention to author’s message or punctuation.  I reread it, using expression, punctuation, with a focus on the meaning of the story.  Ask your child about our fluency alphabet using the alphabet.  FUN and educational too!