Better Answers in Middle and High School Spencerport Central Schools Superintendent’s Conference Day October 5, 2007

Goals for the Day Learn about the Better Answer formula Practice the formula View Sample Lessons Prepare lessons

Pre-Assessment Simple questions to decipher your comfort level with implementation.

Separate into Groups Group 1-New to Better Answers or Desire More Knowledge Group 2- Comfortable Implementing in the Classroom

Let’s Write Please read the article entitled, “What Can We do About Global Warming.” Complete the writing task afterward.

Evaluate Yourself Using the New York State Rubric, rate your writing. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Discuss: How does your writing differ from your students’ writing and why? What do you know, understand, do that makes this possible for you?

What is the Better Answers Method? Restate the Question Construct a Gist Statement Use Details to Support Your Answer Stay on Topic Use Proper Conventions

A Jigsaw Activity Read the Introduction. Assign each person to a “step” at your table (5 people) Read the chapter and take notes on the template provided. If you finish early, look at the appendices in the back-they are very useful! Present each step in order. You can take notes on your template.

Basic Tips Take a baseline assessment Spend sufficient time on each step Model, Model, Model! Explicitly apply to all content areas Build in time for assessing and conferring Make real world connections

What texts can I use to practice? High interest articles and essays from newspapers, magazines, or internet Old Exams Essays and articles published on the internet by teens Tip: Be sure to use high interest and easy text, as this is a new task to practice.

In Action Watch video of the method being implemented in class.

Bring the Groups Together Teachers in Group 2 will share, within their department, lesson plans that were written today.

Reflection Reflect on your learning for the day (3-2-1 format). Evaluations