September 22, 2014

One of the expectations of the Learning Liaison is to help provide access to resources.  While visiting classrooms I am searching for resources to help make connections between teachers for our own professional learning. So often our best resources are right here on campus but we do not utilize them. I asked permission to share what I found AND I will be asking you in the future as well.

This past week I discovered in two 1st grade classrooms a way they were setting expectations for their students in writing.  Diane Norwood and Irene Boyton have the GCISD writing stages posted on the wall but they provided a KID-FRIENDLY list as a description of that stage.  Even if you do not teach ELA- you still write within science, social studies and math so this idea can just be adapted for your students.  Students will not meet the challenge of growth, in any subject,  if we do not continually raise or communicate the expectations.

Also-Diane has an extensive classroom library with genre signs which will help her students read a variety of different books while fostering the love of reading.  Donalyn Miller, author of Book Whisperer, would LOVE your efforts to reinforce genres in your classroom.  If you do not teach ELA- you can reinforce genres with your content books as well. 

So please ask these ladies questions OR just go look in their rooms for ideas:)  Cannon is full of gifted teachers!!!!