This morning teachers at my grade level had a few hours to determine a roll out for next year's major ELA curriculum goals, standards, and efforts. We also had the chance to share multiple ideas, tools, and strategies for teaching children well. The meeting began with a focus on the big ideas and main teaching themes. Then the discussion moved to multiple topics including read aloud, digital projects, home study, class/school structure, field studies, and specific teaching strategies. In the end we left the meeting with a "loose-tight" scope and sequence, a few new and wonderful project ideas, and a strengthened grade level team.
When I returned to my room, the students were busily turning the classroom into an endangered species museum. Paper trees, rope vines, balloon animals, clay creatures and more brightened the empty bulletin boards. Later we spent the day cleaning up our project type by adding capital letters, punctuation, great words, and images. A busy, but wonderful day.
What a difference responsive activity and share makes for learners of all ages.
