The most valuable resource all teachers have is each other - Instructional Lead Strategist for Cherokee High School
Joined October 2009
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With the year ending and Milestone scores in, it doesn't mean learning stops! Alicia Tamayo's Biology class shows off their genius hour projects through posters and Canva. Students toured one another's projects and gave feedback as a final activity.
I had the privilege to watch some Math team members in action today! Led by Mr. Luke & Mrs. Howard, the team faces a series of questions in various categories like the Spring ones shown here. They compete with schools all around the state.
As we start to see the grand planetary alignment in the sky this week, peep out these awesome Astronomy constellation projects!
Our Biology PLC took time to learn from each other today! Teachers got to explain the different ways the approached and supported an Argument-Drive Inquiry lab and viewed samples of student work. Then they opened it up to questions and feedback.
Coach Veihman challenges students to think & write about 2 different sets of questions in Health - ones that are open ended/general vs. others with added context. This blends seamlessly into a conversation about metacognitive awareness and how we best retain information.
Mr. Jones uses classroom discussion to generate excitement for an upcoming play they will read aloud in class. He asks anticipatory questions to set the scene & gives pointers on stage directions. Both students and teachers doing learning walks enjoyed unpacking the first scene!
One of my favorite parts of being a coach is celebrating, recognizing, and validating teachers. Teachers who opened their classrooms for learning walks received notes from their peers describing how they've inspired them to adapt their instructional practice (+ snacks!)
Mrs. Clifton hosts teachers in her classroom to check out the ways students give feedback to one another at different stages of their projects. In this instance, students were provided a framework and examples to be able to give specific ideas for revisions.
Bobby Wiggins seamlessly folds in annotation, chunking, and summarizing methods (all with the touch of humor he's well known for) to keep students and teachers from all departments engaged in reading Wilson's 14 points after WWI. Everyone walked out with some great take-a-ways!
From Doodle notes, to positive exit tickets, to Swiftie synthesis, I enjoy taking leaning walks through our Science classrooms! One of the team's instructional focus has been intentionality in the way they summarize learning in their closing activities.
Throwback thank you to our ESOL lead, Zonya Pickett, for hosting the first Coffee & Collaborate session. Next up? Using @KaganOnline strategies! @CcsdEsol @ITSCCSD #ccsdconnectED24
Reminiscing to the Friday before break - one of my favorite days of the year - the faculty/student basketball game with a surprise inflatable run!
Walk the Science hallways and you'll see Ms. Okenica's "Turkey Out the Door" where students summarize learning and Mr. DeVoss' epic wall displays where students from multiple classes demonstrate processes like cellular respiration shown here.
Students are hard at work mining cookies to extract the "coal" and attempt to reclaim the land in Ms. Sheldon's class. Some students chose other treats representing additional mining techniques, leading to an overall discussion on cost-benefit analysis to close out the lesson.
Students took the time to leave each other constructive feedback in Ms. Parrado's Visual Arts class. She provided topics for feedback that mirrored the success criteria as well as some helpful tips. Students then had time to adjust their projects based on the feedback received.
Ms. Flint created an experiential lesson to answer the guiding ?: How do carbon and oxygen cycle through ecosystems? Ss made a claim + justification after simulating this using leaf discs, buffer solution and heat lamps. Ss attached visible meaning to the photosynthesis process.
Our PLCs are in full swing - sharing opening/closing ideas & student work makes for great discussion. Our Financial Algebra team talks car financing while Enviro. Science shows vocab. Our Bio PLC gave glows and grows for each teachers' activity on the characteristics of life
Our astronomy teachers are using hallways to extend the classroom for gallery walks where students explore monoliths around the world. Students had differentiated note grabbers that included spots for description and visuals to reference later.
