Responding to Student Needs

 

As a teacher I will

• make sure I teach and students will learn what is genuinely of value in a subject matter
• pique students curiosity about what we explore, capture their interest, and help them see daily that learning is inherently satisfying
• call on students consistently to help them become more than they think they can become through dedicated work; and
• be their partner, coach, mentor and taskmaster all along their learning journey

Work is important, focused, and engaging, and I will remember to:

• Focus students products and lessons around their significant problems and issues 
• Use meaningful audiences - Keep in mind the ages of the students, and what interests them? 
• Help students discover how ideas and skills are useful in the world  
• Provide choices that ensure focus and enthusiasm in students learning  
• Look for fresh ways to present and explore ideas. To keep learning fun!  

 

Work is demanding and scaffolded. As a teacher I will:

• Use tiered approaches and differentiate
• Incorporate complex instruction to challenge students
• Use a variety of rubrics to guide quality and assessments
• Provide learning contracts at appropriate times
• Aim high, for myself and my students
• Take a “no excuses” stance. Work hard and play hard!
• Be computer savvy - Have a class website
• Help students realize success is the result of hard work and effort
• Use the new American lecture format
• The lecture is well organized to clearly present key knowledge, understanding, and skill
• Provide students with a blank graphic organizer that follows the flow of the lecture
• Guide students in completion of the organizer as the lecture progresses
• Stop often during the lecture to ask students to review ideas, make predictions about what will come next, and make links with past knowledge or their lives

• Designate a “keeper of the book” or “helper for the day” to record the date, a list of homework or other assignments, and the important knowledge, understandings, and skills explored in class during that period
• Directly teach strategies for working successfully with text
• Use think alouds
• Use small group instruction as a regular part of instructional cycles
• Establish peer networks for learning within a classroom community
• Promote language proficiency for all students
• Team with resource specialists within the school