Presentation+ideas

Let's discuss ideas for our presentation here: These are some things Rozina and I discussed briefly. What does everyone think? Rozina: My major concern is how we're going to talk for 1 hour! In addition to reviewing the book, we are to share a outside text that we have used within the past year--I am guessing that would mean 1 text each, for maybe 5 minutes each--that would be 20 minutes.Melissa mentioned perhaps teaching a lesson? I found that "circle" stories (i.e., the Give a Mouse a Cookie) was found in all 3 sections--

Mariekan: We definitely need to clarify that with Jerdi.One hour is a long time. With this book I would also think we would need to have samples of some of the projects.

Rozina: Page 109" "The best teacher of writing is writing" Perhaps we could use that quote as well because the book stresses the importance of the writers workshop and the use of good literature in the minilessons

Mariekan: I like that quote. I would give us a good theme to work from.

I am still working on my RtI book. I have not started this one yet. Will be reading quite a bit this weekend. :) Good ideas so far....Denise

**Friday--ideas from Rozina--**I am going to just throw this out; you all decide what you think;

1) Give quote (see above)2) Review writing characteristics at different levels k-2, 3-4, 5-8--maybe provide a visual of this?

3) From here, do a series of lessons that go from the beginning, middle, endSuggested lessonsp. 68 (grades 3-4)--Focus on slice of piep. 21-22/79 (grades K-2/3-4 combined)--we could read either the Fireflies or Scarecrow (unfamiliar with both) to discuss the concept of beginning/middle/end, with a focus that the middle should be the largest part; we could talk about giving the 3 sheets of paper to K-2 for the beginning, middle, endp.36/82/119 (all 3 levels)--Circular Ending: read all of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and the beginning/ending paragraphs of //Tuck Everlasting//, discuss circular endings

4) Give quote

This would not only highlight several lessons (and we could discuss how the same ideas are addressed at the various levels) but it also mocks the writing process--a beginning (1/2) the middle, the main chunk (3) and a ending--a circular ending with the quote.

At the end (last 15 minutes or so) we could do our individual book selections--still not sure what I am going to use for this, as a great deal of the resources I've used this past year have been all required reading from our coursework. **Saturday 6/9- Mariekan**Rozina, I think your ideas sounds fantastic. However, I have to finish reading the book before I can really comment. I plan to finish the book by Wednesday. I will be on vacation next week with my family. My "vacation" includes lots of pool and deck time for reading!

**Sunday 6/10 - Denise**Rozina, I think you ideas are well thought out too. Like Mariekan, I am still reading. Hope to be able to add more helpful comments by mid-week as well. Thanks for getting a jump on this! Wednesday 6/13- Melissa What about sharing a text about using mentor texts? I found two different texts that we could use as our text-to-text connections. (One is titled __The Struggling Reader: Interventions That Work__ by Cooper, Chard, & Kiger and the other is __Supporting Struggling Readers and Writers: Strategies for Classroom Intervention 3-6__ by Strickland, Ganske, & Monroe.) Let me know if you need a text for this section...I have both copies.)

Also, we could use a different text (other than what was from the Craft book) to design our own minilesson similar to the "style of the Craft book". This would give us a little originality (without simply copying from the lessons of the book). Any ideas?

Wednesday 6/13-Mariekan I do like the idea of using different books, for the lessons. That would be easier for me since I could just use a book I am already familiar with. I am still reading. Honestly, the RTI is kicking my butt, and taking me a very long time to get through.

Melissa-I don't know either of the books you are speaking of, but they seem like they would be appropriate. I haven't been in the classroom for a year, so I had to pick a book that I used for another class. I'm going to use Carol Tomlinson's //Fulfilling the Promise of the Differentiated Classroom: Strategies and Tools for Responsive Teaching//.

I'm still a little unsure of exactly what we are expected to do, I feel like we need to all be able to talk about the project together to work through the details. We could all meet for lunch one day, or schedule a conference call. What do you all think?

Wednesday 6/13 Rozina

I think we could pattern our own lesson by the Craft book, using a different text. This would help stress that the lessons can be used for a variety of levels & texts and they are meant to be used in conjunction with literature. By text-to-text connection, Melissa, do you mean the text we each are supposed to share that has been helpful this past year? I have Mindful of Words (also by Ganske) that I had considered using--it is a resource for SJ/DR word study/prefixes and roots. Mariekan, I am also unclear of our expectations, however, I leave Sat. for the beach and will have to come home early Thurs for Fri's class.

Can we all agree on a target grade level, text & lesson? Do we need a hard copy to distribute?

Wednesday 6/13 Mariekan I think we need to clarify the expectations then make sure we have a plan we all agree on. It makes me nervous that we have projects due so soon after the class starts. We are going to have to get together or conference at some point.

Wednesday 6/13 Melissa You're right Mariekan...let's try to get together....or at least let's continue sharing ideas. I think we should try to be finished with the readings (at least our books for presentations) before the first class. I e-mailed Amy Shirmer telling her that I could help transport books with my van and she said that I was the ONLY one to respond...and I think we are a step ahead of everyone else with this wiki.

The text-to-text connection was the professional book we've read in the last year. I'm assuming that it should be about writing, since our book is about teaching the craft of writing using mentor texts and mini lessons. I have an outline of the Struggling Reader book if anyone wants to use it...I would assume that we only really need to share what stands out that connects to our Craft book.

How about 3rd grade since Mariekan and I have both taught that...or we could go with 6th for Rozina...but I think we should stick to at least above 2nd because of the nature of teaching writing. This book deals a lot with the revision process too....I always use the Saltwater Marsh and Changing a Tire pieces with my 3rd graders...they LOVE seeing other students' writings.

Rozina and Denise- Mariekan and I could meet to muddle through some of the details and share with you both the results to start our presentation....next week? (if that's okay...let me know!) If not...we have class from 9-12 next Friday (setting up with room assignments)...if all else fails we can meet after that.

Take care everyone...and remember-we CAN do this...not long left.

Thursday, June 14--Rozina

Melissa--I'm fine with a third grade lesson. Actually, what I'd like to do is maybe discuss during/after the third grade lesson how the same concept might be addressed with older students. I like how Craft addresses the revision process with the concrete cut & paste revisions for younger students and then moving up to a true second draft. Could three of us pretend to be third graders, write a draft and then have the "teacher" teach us how to do the cut and paste thing?

Are we all doing a different text-to-text connection? If so, I'll do Mindful of Words. I think that portion of the presentation would be fairly short--as Melissa said, connecting the extra text to the Craft book. No more than 5 minutes each?

Am I right in thinking we do NOT do a written review of the first day's reading (Dyslexia or RTI)? I thought the group project was in place of the review. ..

I have also considered that we may be trying to meet with both groups Friday p.m. I feel better about this project than I do the big group one. ..

We'll get through this!

June 15-Melissa That's a great idea Rozina...let's design a lesson for 3rd and apply the same concept for 6th. Cute..we could use the document camera to help with this, but we might already need to have our writings.

I think you're right about not doing a written book review...we might want to clarify with Jeradi though. We also need to clarify the length of time for this presentation. I remember the other one was an hour, but do we really have an hour for this one too....remember there are several other books (at least 3 I think). Do we need to do a prezi, wiki, etc....something to show on the screen for this presentation too?

June 15--Rozina If I remember correctly the 2 Craft books were dated June 26 and the other 2 were June 27. I have written down 1 hour. I am unclear about the need for a "visual." Let me email Beth and see what her group is doing. Do we want to have some prewritten "3rd grade" drafts and then "cut and edit" then? 1 of us be the teacher and the other 3 be students?

June 15- Melissa That sounds good Rozina! Thanks for e-mailing Beth. (You can be the teacher if you'd like!)

June 17 (8:00 p.m.) - Denise I am sorry for the delay in posting. I have had some family issues this week. I just finished reading the Craft book. You all have come up with some good ideas. This is what I have gathered as the possible format... 1. Quote from book - p. 109

2. Review of writing characteristics at each of the 3 levels

3. Model of minilesson from each level and show how it can carry-over to the other grade levels when possible and use texts other than what is listed whenever possible a) p. 68 - Slice of pie for 3-4 b) Beginning/Middle/End for K-2 & 3-4 c) Circular Ending for all 3 levels

4. End with a quote

5. Make text-to-text connection by each of us

But then there was some discussion about focusing on one grade, either 3rd or 6th?

Modeling lessons would seem to be the best way to share this book. Just a matter of ironing out the details. Melissa & Mariekan: I will be working Monday-Thursday June 18-21. I can get to Roanoke by 4:30 any afternoon if we want to meet to discuss. Let me know if this works for you. Rozina: I hope you are enjoying your vacation.

June 22-Mariekan Thanks for meeting today. I think we have a great plan. I have pulled some writings of my son's. I will take pictures then work on the prezi tomorrow. Do I need to make copies of anything?