2. Best Practices
Open to the website: http://linoit.com/users/
josteen/canvases/Briarwood Workshop
On each sticky note, add an activity that worked really well in
your classroom with a group or partners or something you
would like to do.
3. Best Practices
Look at the sticky notes. What categories
do we have?
Did these give you any new ideas for
your classes?
4. Best Practices
Definition Characteristics
Critical thinking
Compare and Contrast
Inquiry
Inductive Reasoning
Examples Non-examples
Socratic Method
Frayer model
from www.masterteachermindset.com
5. Best Practices
Authentic tasks: a task we ask students to
perform is considered authentic when 1) students
are asked to construct their own responses rather
than select from ones presented and 2) the task
replicates challenges faced in the real world.
from Authentic assessment toolbox
6. Best Practices
Engaged learning is challenging,
authentic and/or complex
Engaged Assessment - Authentic task, project,
or investigation, and then observing, interviewing,
and examining their presentations and artifacts to
assess what they actually know and can do.
from http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/engaged.htm
9. Each group will fill Definition Characteristics
in the chart with one
of the best practices
below.
1. Critical thinking
2. Engaged learning
3. Authentic assessment
Examples Non-examples
10. BEST PRACTICE
Today’s Standards for Teaching and
Learning in America’s Schools
Third Edition
Steven Zemelman, Harvey Daniels, and Arthur Hyde
HEINEMANN
MORE active learning, with all the attendant noise
and movement of students doing, talking, and
collaborating
MORE experiential, inductive, hands-on learning
MORE diverse roles for teachers, including coaching,
demonstrating, and modeling
MORE emphasis on higher-order thinking; learning a
field’s key concepts and principles
11. Best Practices
MORE deep study of a smaller number of topics, so
that students internalize the field’s way of inquiry
MORE reading of real texts: whole books, primary
sources, and nonfiction materials
MORE responsibility transferred to students for their
work: goal setting, record keeping, monitoring,
sharing, exhibiting, and evaluating
12. Best Practices
MORE choice for students (e.g., choosing their own books,
writing topics, team partners, and research projects)
MORE enacting and modeling of the principles of
democracy in school
MORE attention to affective needs and varying
cognitive styles of individual students
MORE cooperative, collaborative activity; developing
the classroom as an interdependent community
17. Online Resources
What kind of online resources would you like to use?
What online resource have you found lately that you think
you can use?
In your group, answer these questions and be ready to
present one resource to all of us - anyway you want.
Online Resources - Google Docs
29. US History Documentary
iMovie Documentary
In groups of 2 (classes with an odd total
number of students may have one group of 3),
using iMovie, create a 5-7 minute documentary
concerning one of these people. Here are the
available options. Some are better than others in
terms of the relevant information available, so
research before you pick. Figures will be
assigned on a first-come, first-served basis in
each class.
30. US History Documentary
iMovie Logistical Requirements
1. The iMovie should be clearly narrated by one
or more of the members of the group in the style
of a historical documentary, not a drama,
interview, etc.
2. It should include numerous relevant pictures,
occasional text (for quotes or to introduce
people or events), and background music. I can
direct you to appropriate music from the time
31. US History Documentary
Impact of iMovie Documentary
• Students develop research, writing, and
creative skills in a collaborative environment
• Engagement with the social studies in a
History Channel/YouTube era
• Encourages storytelling, reporting, role
playing, etc
32. Science Examples
Dissections are great for block days because it gives
you enough time to really go through pre and post lab.
Paper airplane construction. We talk about symmetry
and aerodynamics and then build and test them.
Building 3D cell models
33. Science Examples
Polymer lab where students test 5 different polymers. Some
are store bought (silly putty, flarp) and others we make in
class.
Metric olympics : activities that teach metric measures
Speed and velocity lab with matchbox cars. Students
calculate the speed and then make minor changes to the car to
improve speed time. Students get in groups and we have one
large track that goes across the entire room and we race one
by one.
