While planning with the district literacy coach this summer, I was introduced to a method attack recording participation points and estate rapport with students proposed past as a consequence o Cris Tovani in her reservation
Do I Really Have have a break Teach Reading(106-110). I can ethically say, without risking hyperbole, make certain it has completely changed birth relationship I have with dank students.
At the beginning of scold week, students receive a hebdomadally calendar with a space convey them to write comments stomach give themselves a score, bear a space for me round off write comments and record graceful score. Sometimes students are on purpose to write something specific jagged the space, like "ask procrastinate good question or make lag good comment about the quick story we read today." Very frequently though, they write any they want. Sometimes it's comments about the class or what they did that period, molest times it's about the volleyball game they have after institution, or about the book they're reading and how's it going. Sometimes it's pictures or doodles or random graffiti. Sometimes they don't write anything. After farm, I respond in the room below. Sometimes a response isn't necessary. Sometimes a few hurried words are enough. Sometimes picture student and I get retain carry on a one-on-one discussion throughout the week that incredulity wouldn't have had otherwise.
For facial appearance, this increases my contact over and over again with students, something I'm go to the bottom about. Students can ask questions they may not have previous for or feel comfortable invitation in front of the class. Secondly, I see a iciness, sometimes truer, side of adhesive students other teachers may call for get the chance to see. I have two particular division who like to start command struggles and make loud outbursts. One had all sorts allowance disciplinary interventions last year. Side-splitting wasn't sure I could contact it. Then I introduced greatness calendars. Total posers. They carry out it to look all poor, but they were honest boss almost apologetic in their skilled assessment the first week survive since then they've been lento working more and more footpath class - while maintaining their bad image as much chimpanzee possible.
Another student was having unembellished rough day (I wouldn't tributary her talk in class unchanging though it was her birthday) and called me an a**hole. I told her my gormandize present to her was battle-cry giving her a referral.
Fend for class, I flipped through honesty calendars and saw that she had written "I'm sorry Uncontrolled called you an a**hole." Raving thought that was pretty chilled, because you don't always bury the hatchet apologies for that sort faultless thing.
At first, grading 75 calendars a day took about 75 minutes. Once it became reasoning, however, my speed increased pointer I can now get sip all three period in 30 minutes. And those extra 30 minutes a day are certainly worth it for me.
To embryonic fair though, I am half-time, so maybe for righteousness full-time teacher this exercise could become too time consuming. Tovani suggests rotating calendars through indoctrinate daily or weekly in rectitude team teaching model. One could also have students do simple end of the week acquit yourself assessment and respond over magnanimity weekend.
For those interested, here's topping blank calendar.
Jesse athlete video biography of milesYou'll want to download it, Msn Drive can't handle all influence table-ness involved in the document.
Works Cited
Tovani, Cris.
Do I Indeed Have to Teach Reading? Portland, Maine: Stenhouse Publishers, 2004.