Lake Tract Elementary Lake Tract Elementary PLC 2013 - 2014PLC 2013 - 2014

Teachers:  Teachers:  Rachel Contreras, Shari Douglass and Rachel Contreras, Shari Douglass and

Lois StewartLois Stewart

Vertical Articulation (5th - 6th grade)Vertical Articulation (5th - 6th grade)

BOOKS:BOOKS:            The Book WhispererThe Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller by Donalyn Miller            Integrating Literacy and MathIntegrating Literacy and Math – “Strategies – “Strategies for K-6 Teachers” by Fogelberg, Skalinder, for K-6 Teachers” by Fogelberg, Skalinder, Satz, Hiller, Bernstein & VitantonioSatz, Hiller, Bernstein & Vitantonio

Goal:  To implement effective Goal:  To implement effective cross-curricular strategies within cross-curricular strategies within

ELA and MATH curriculum.ELA and MATH curriculum.

The Book WhispererThe Book WhispererFocus on creating a classroom Focus on creating a classroom environment for students to environment for students to read using choice and self-read using choice and self-reflection.reflection.

““Providing students with the Providing students with the opportunity to choose their own opportunity to choose their own books to read empowers and books to read empowers and encourages them.  It strengthens encourages them.  It strengthens their self-confidence, rewards their their self-confidence, rewards their interests, and promotes a positive interests, and promotes a positive attitude toward reading by valuing attitude toward reading by valuing the reader and giving him or her, a the reader and giving him or her, a level of control. level of control.

Independent ReadingIndependent Reading p56 p56Conditions for LearningConditions for Learning p34 p34

·     Immersion·     Immersion ·     Demonstrations·     Demonstrations ·     Expectations·     Expectations ·     Responsibility·     Responsibility ·     Employment·     Employment ·     Approximations·     Approximations ·     Response·     Response ·     Engagement·     Engagement

GenresGenres: pg.78: pg.78

1.     Poetry1.     Poetry2.     Traditional Literature2.     Traditional Literature3.     Realistic Fiction3.     Realistic Fiction4.     Historical Fiction Fantasy4.     Historical Fiction Fantasy5.     Science Fiction5.     Science Fiction6.     Mystery6.     Mystery7.     Informational7.     Informational8.     Biography, autobiography, memoir8.     Biography, autobiography, memoir9.     Chapter-book choice9.     Chapter-book choice

Teacher Reflections;Teacher Reflections; Ways “The Book Whisper” has Ways “The Book Whisper” has influenced instruction in the classroom;influenced instruction in the classroom;

Rachel Contreras Rachel Contreras (5th Grade – In Class Support)(5th Grade – In Class Support)

Shari Douglass (6th Grade)Shari Douglass (6th Grade)

Lois Stewart (5th Grade)Lois Stewart (5th Grade)

Integrating Literacy and MathIntegrating Literacy and Math

Standards “emphasize the following Standards “emphasize the following practices as important to providing an practices as important to providing an effective math curriculum:” helping effective math curriculum:” helping students learn to “think algebraically,” students learn to “think algebraically,” leading to greater achievement in high leading to greater achievement in high school;school;

Emphasizing problem solving as early as Emphasizing problem solving as early as kindergarten, so students learn to pull kindergarten, so students learn to pull problems apart and identify their essence;problems apart and identify their essence;

Developing deep and meaningful Developing deep and meaningful understanding of mathematics by helping understanding of mathematics by helping students talk and write about the students talk and write about the significance of their math learning.significance of their math learning.

* Underlying similarities of * Underlying similarities of strategies apply within ELA and strategies apply within ELA and MathMath

·     Making connections·     Making connections·     Predicting·     Predicting·     Asking questions·     Asking questions·     Being aware of their thinking ·     Being aware of their thinking

(metacognition)(metacognition)·     Making inferences·     Making inferences·     Visualizing ·     Visualizing ·     Summarizing·     Summarizing·     Determining importance·     Determining importance

Teacher Reflections;Teacher Reflections; Ways Ways “Integrating Literacy and Math” has “Integrating Literacy and Math” has influenced instruction in the influenced instruction in the classroom;classroom;

Rachel Contreras Rachel Contreras (5th Grade – In class support)(5th Grade – In class support)

Shari Douglass (6th Grade)Shari Douglass (6th Grade)

Lois Stewart (5th Grade)Lois Stewart (5th Grade)

Rachel Contreras Rachel Contreras 55thth Grade In class support… Grade In class support…ReflectionsReflections Inspired by both authors of The Inspired by both authors of The

Ghost Whisperer and Integrating Ghost Whisperer and Integrating Literacy and Math, my students have Literacy and Math, my students have benefited greatly;benefited greatly;

3-4 mornings/wk they are exposed to 3-4 mornings/wk they are exposed to various genres in short various genres in short articles/selections or essays. Their articles/selections or essays. Their responses are not only written, but responses are not only written, but discussions, debates and discussions, debates and connections are being made (more connections are being made (more student centered).student centered).

R. Contreras Reflections (cont).R. Contreras Reflections (cont). Morning Math Messages now often include Morning Math Messages now often include

questions about how the student questions about how the student understands a math concept. The understands a math concept. The responses are either verbal or in sentence responses are either verbal or in sentence form. form.

Peer Helpers, who tend to grasp material Peer Helpers, who tend to grasp material quickly are challenged to ”teach” their own quickly are challenged to ”teach” their own peers in learning a concept.peers in learning a concept.

While grading can’t be replaced, my While grading can’t be replaced, my students are often assessed on personal students are often assessed on personal growth and improvement within a specific growth and improvement within a specific area of ELA or MATH. For example, area of ELA or MATH. For example, writing formulas and explaining in “words” writing formulas and explaining in “words” how they understand the formulas has how they understand the formulas has helped struggling students to remember helped struggling students to remember the concepts more fully.the concepts more fully.

R. Contreras – Reflections (cont.)R. Contreras – Reflections (cont.)

BOOK TALKS vs. always assessing BOOK TALKS vs. always assessing a written assignment encouraged a written assignment encouraged students to relax when completing in students to relax when completing in class novels; sharing viewpoints, class novels; sharing viewpoints, concerns and lessons without the concerns and lessons without the pressure of an official grade. This pressure of an official grade. This allowed students to enjoy the allowed students to enjoy the reading material more.reading material more.

Finally, as a tutor after school ,some Finally, as a tutor after school ,some of the authors strategies for of the authors strategies for comprehension and expression have comprehension and expression have been successful in keeping the been successful in keeping the students more engaged.students more engaged.