MARESA LITERACY MONTHLY: October 2020 Edition

Spotlight on the Essentials

sMall Group Synchronous Teaching Tips

     Essential #3:  Small group instruction, using a variety of grouping strategies, most often with flexible groups formed and instruction targeted to children's observed and assessed needs in specific aspects of literacy development.

    Whether in the classroom or away, small group instruction gives educators the most bang for each "instructional buck".  Many tips and tricks have emerged from classrooms all over Michigan (see below).  

We look to quality examples to expand our practices and would like to share two videos that may spark new possibilities:  

• The first video, found on the Literacy Essentials website features Dr. Nell Duke from the University of Michigan.  
• The second video, found on the University of Florida's Virtual Teaching Hub feature

Managing It All! 👀  

Virtual Teaching Schedule Considerations  

      To start the thought process, think of your virtual planning in three parts:  synchronous instruction, asynchronous instruction, and office hour time.  Use this virtual schedule to help guide you in creating a model that works best for you and provides quality to the students that you serve.  

REading into things

7 Norms of Collaborative Work

To help establish and sustain structures for thinking and collaborating in our system, an effective practice from the Thinking Collaborative is establishing the 7 norms of collaboration into our work (e.g. literacy networks, grade level teams, PLCs, school and district committees etc.) and implementing protocols for dialogue, planning, evaluating, etc. Norms and protocols help structure our complex work to ensure all perspectives are heard and are also effective practices to bring into our classroom with students. 

Go! Go! Gaby!

Synchronous group meetings

Start with your expectations

Show them the 4 basic controls

Manage your breakout rooms and use them for student reading practice.

Hand signals work on chats!
Featured Edtech blog: How to use Jamboard in the classroom: 20+ tips and ideas, plus Jamboard is now linked directly in Google Meet

Engaging Families

What Works When Technology Doesn't?      

Just like when we are in our classroom, we need a backup plan for our students.  We want to set that plan ahead of time and communicate it clearly to students and families.  

• Read to Self (access to books or digital text at home)

• Audiobooks

• Authentic writing (letter to teacher, friend, postcards, etc.)

• Promoting Local Library programs

• Promoting watching PBS programs

• High quality apps & online subscriptions for practice