Pause and Ponder / February 7

I have learned so much from Kajder's Bringing the Outside In. Some things that stick in my mind are the following:

• Save early and often ( I have had many 6th graders crying because their piece is not there the next day when they go back to work on it)
• Start slow and simple (I used to try to do too much new stuff at one time; after many mistakes, I now try a little new at a time)
• Presentations should be graded 80% content and 20% effect
• Students need to read and write for authentic purposes
• Be open to knowing our students
• Be open to thinking about reading and writing instruction in different ways
• We aren't learning a new technology; we are using a technology to learn
• I continue to learn to read by reading
• Good readers reread, write while they read, read, reread again
• Many students simply lack confidence
• Students need to complete tasks that extend their thinking beyond a quick interaction with the text
• Learning happens during discovery, sharing and dialogue
• I like the vocabulary squares ( I have done things similar to this)
• I like the pictures to represent the vocabulary words (I have the student draw a picture, but the photograph would work nicely)
• Vocabulary Word Wall with pictures instead of just words sounds like a great idea (we have been using Word Walls for several years now and they are invaluable for review )

I could go on and on, but these are the things I remember the most this week. I don't think I have been reading enough of everyone else's blogs, but I have enjoyed the book. Maybe I will do better this week.