The Real Deal

Everything you see below is the "Real Deal" in instruction.  Students are richly participating and leading learning opportunities for themselves and others as exemplified by student autonomy, evaluation and writing.

Whenever students have opportunities to write in their content area, we increase relevant and realistic learning.  Writing doesn't just happen in an ELA classroom.  It happens everywhere, and it's enhanced by small group instruction and conferencing.  Check it out in this health classroom....

Here, students are conferencing with one another and the teacher to improve their understanding of the digestive system.  They are evaluating which "VIP" components of this body system deserve to be a focus in their writing.  This assignment not only gives students an opportunity to write, but it also requires them to think and evaluate content.

RADCAB - who knew?  Apparently, Ms. Stanford did!  These 8th graders are learning about Relevancy, Appropriateness, Detail, Currency, Authority and Bias in relation to their online research and the use of databases.  As students begin their research, they'll evaluate the quality of their sources for integration into writing.

What do you do when not every student gets it?  You tap into student leadership to develop learning for all kids.  After their last eValuate test, these Algebra students led sessions for their peers; these sessions were brief 5 minute reviews with a quick change to the next station.  Throughout the class period, each student led at least one small session to review the question (aka skill) with students who did not "get it" the first time.

Primary Sources:  Want to see what a "real" newspaper looked like from "back in the day."

Student Pen Pals: Shhh!  These students have a secret pen pal from the other 8th grade German class.  What a great way to practice writing in German!

In choir every Friday, students lead the warm up.  Ever heard of "ghost sounds"?  Your students have!