LEAP Love, Energy, Audacity, Proof

The idea of using LEAP as an acronym for our Power Point came from the book, Radical Leap by Steve Farber. Hopefully, our journey will not be a radical leap but a gradual climb.

L - LOVE CULTIVATE LOVE – Passion to teach The new “Common Core State Standards” are exciting. They are finally empowering teachers to do what we do best, TEACH. The good thing about the “Common Core” is that we are already implementing the standards. They give guidelines, but how we reach them is our choice. There are changes. Often times it’s the changes that are uncomfortable.

E- ENERGY GENERATE ENERGY – Teaching in the 21st century is not going to be the same. We have talked about and made goals about what we want. Now we need to put them into action.

MORE WRITING The college and career anchor standards define cross-curricular expectations. This is a goal that we have had for a long time, “Reading and Writing across the curriculum”.

The Common Core State Standards are for “English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science , and Technical Subjects”. http://www.corestandards.org/

2. Writing isn’t always a research paper. In the Carnegie Report “Evidence for How Writing Can Improve Reading” states the evidence pretty clearly that students retain more when they write about what they read. http://carnegie.org/fileadmin/Media/Publications/WritingToRead_01.pdf 2. Writing isn’t always a research paper. ..\Three%20Text%20Types%20Formats.docx

Text Complexity “Reading is thinking. Every serious reader understands that reading is thinking. To read is to take time to think about something – an idea, an issue, a question – that matters to you . To read is to enter into a conversation with interesting, important people about ideas and issues.”

Reading Is Thinking

Text complexity means increasing students’ critical thinking by evaluating our lessons according to our text complexity band. It is measuring all three parts; qualitative, quantitative, and reader task. If you have a literature book that you really love, consider what else you can add to the theme to increase critical thinking skills. It will mean more collaboration among science, history, math, etc. to see what you can add. Text Complexity Rubric.docx http://www.lexile.com/findabook

2. Read more informational text 2. Read more informational text. We have professionals that are resources in our schools. We need to look toward our content area teachers as a resource.

Technology The Common Core expects us to get students prepared for the future, college and career ready. In this Power Point we are including resources that will be available for you on the district site.

Resources http://www.lexile.com/findabook (Leveling books with a lexile score) SBAC SMARTER_Summary for Academies.ppt (When the common core will be tested) http://www.corestandards.org/ (Standards) http://jsdsecondaryelacommoncore.wordpress.com (Jordan School District Site – http://commoncore.org/maps/index.php (Common Core Gates Lesson Plans) http://www.wasatchwriting.org (Writing resources) Toulmin Argument graphics.pdf (Argumentative Writing) http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/readig/toulmin/index.cfm http://readwritethink.org/files/resources/lessons_images/lessons829/Argument-Propaganda.pdf 7 C's King.pdf (Inquire Resource Book – Argumentative Writing ) http://littoolkit.pbworks.com/f/Middle+School+Vocabulary+Strategies.pdf (Teaching Vocabulary across the curriculum) http://carnegie.org/fileadmin/Media/Publications/WritingToRead_01.pdf (Carnegie Report, Writing to Read)

Differentiation – It almost seems like a bad word, but in reality, we are using differentiation in our classrooms. “When teachers differentiate instruction, they move away from seeing themselves as keepers and dispensers of knowledge and more towards organizers of learning opportunities.” Carol Ann Tomlinson

Differentiation is:. Proactive planning Differentiation is: *Proactive planning *More qualitative rather than quantitative *Rooted in assessment *Providing multiple approaches to content, process, and product *Student centered *A blend of whole-class, group, and individual instruction * ORGANIC - -Teachers and Students learn together Differentiation is developing a proactive approach with content, process, or the product.

Differentiation is not:. Individualized Instruction. Chaotic Differentiation is not: *Individualized Instruction *Chaotic *Just another way of providing homogeneous grouping *Just altering the same information *Spoon feeding our students

A – AUDACITY Inspire Audacity – Don’t let your beliefs become theirs. Students need to be held accountable for their own education. Challenge them; make them work and exercise their brains. Our students are the next leaders of the world. How are they going to lead if they cannot think for themselves?

P – PROOF Provide proof – Accountability for ourselves (practice what you preach, walk the walk, etc,) “Whenever humanly possible, make sure that your actions and behaviors live up to and reflect the words and ideas, promises, and commitments that come out of your mouth.” Teach with passion and vitality. Student accountability – “Don’t accept a student not learning”, Superintendent Torgerson TEACHING ISN’T EASY, BUT IT IS OUR CHOICE.

Books Inquire –Thoughtful Learning --- www.thoughtfullearning.com (Free book) Teaching Argument Writing – Heineman– Grades 6-12 -- www.heinemann.com Differentiation in Practice – Carol Ann Tomlinson, Caroline Cunningham Eidson– www.ascd.org/write --Grades 5 - 9 Reading, Writing, & Inquiry in the Science Classroom Grades 6-12– Kathleen Chamberlain, Christine Corby Crane ---- www.corwinpress.com