As I walk into Mr. Lee’s 6th grade classroom, hands are shooting up everywhere. “Ooh, Mr. Lee, I know! I know … my brother…” Mr. Lee is smiling, letting the energy build; more students make connections. Looking at his board
Constructed Response Writing Workshop: Learning from and with peers
“Well, we didn’t really address the question too good” – a statement by one of my 3rd graders as his group brought their poster paper to the front of the classroom. Trying to encourage my students to write well-crafted constructed
In Her Words: Insights into the difference supported opportunity makes.
How do you light up a classroom? With Jenna’s* glow … the sparkle in her eyes … as she shares her passionate understanding. Passion is not a word usually associated with my shy, angry Jenna. Being raised by her grandmother,
A Learning Table that taught me
I’d heard, but hadn’t understood, that some students learn best through narrative structures … until the day I was trying to guide six off-task eighth grade boys through comprehension of an informational text. With the rest of the students reading
Bending the format of Socratic Seminar… and winning my students’ minds
“You know, Ms. G… this is like anger management therapy” My heart cringed, wondering where Will was going with his comment. A tall, lanky 8th grader, he was looked up to – in every sense of the word – by