Get the Concept!

Concept boards are a unique way to help our students connect information across the curriculum.  One of the key shifts challenges us to build background knowledge for our students and in our last quarterly meeting for CCRS, we explored teaching students through units.  We learned that teaching in units ties information together for students and enables them to make connections throughout the day. While we know how important connecting the dots for our students is, we often find it a challenge to make these concept boards teachable and beneficial to our students.  Many teachers struggle with what to put on a concept board and it is difficult to answer this exactly since each concept board is going to be tailored to the individual class.

CONCEPT BOARD:  WHAT IS IT?
A concept board is a visual representation that allows students to build background knowledge over the course of a unit.  It is typically centered around an essential question or a unit question, with smaller questions that are used to gradually build students' understanding of the concept  being explored.  The concept board contains student work, photographs, drawings, graphs, or anything else that students have used to answer the question.

CONCEPT BOARD: WHAT GOES ON IT?
Concept boards can vary from class to class since the material is customized to the needs of each class.  Every group brings different experiences to the classroom so what goes on the board is going to be unique to the each class.  The "must haves" for the concept board are the essential question and any student work that answers the question and leads to understanding of the concept.  This is a wonderful chance to bring in our students' creativity!

Below is a short video that contains examples from Region 11 of concept boards.  You will see many different representations of boards.  There is also a short clip at the end of a teacher talking about her concept board.  Because the video is real life and taken in a classroom with students, the sound quality is not professional.  Put on your listening ears!  If you have examples of a great concept board, please share with us!  You can share in the comment section below or you can email your pictures to alabamareadinginitiative11@gmail.com.  We can't wait to see your examples!!

CCRS Quarterly Meeting Number 1 in a Nutshell

Summary of CCRS Quarterly Meeting #1:

Message from Dr. Bice

http://alex.state.al.us/ccrs/node/310  

Curriculum Guides

If you are looking for ways to break standards down into prerequisite skills to support struggling learners, click on the link below. ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies K-12 courses of study are all included. Though typically used by special education teachers, this can be a great resource for all teachers.

http://alex.state.al.us/specialed/curriculum.html  

EQuIP Quality Review Rubric

Are you looking for a tool for self-assessment of your lessons/units or self-assessment of your teaching as it relates to implementing College and Career Readiness Standards? This rubric might just be your solution. Use the link below, click on Download All and select the correct rubric (Social Studies teachers should select the ELA/Literacy).

http://achievethecore.org/page/605/equip-quality-review-rubric   

CCRS PD

30 hours of professional development will be available through eLearning courses starting October 1. Go to STI-PD and look at STI-PD numbers CCRSELA01, CCRSELA02, CCRSLIT01, CCRSMTH01, or CCRSMT02 for descriptions of courses related to ELA, Content Literacy, and Mathematics.

Insight Tool

The improved Alabama Insight Tool includes standards, lesson plans, and resources for K-12 in math, ELA, social studies and in content area literacy. Go to http://alex.state.al.us/ . Click on the Personal Workspace box and create a unique account. The Alabama Insight Tool button is included with other resources available for teacher use after you create an account. The individual accounts are customizable for content.

Great Technology Resource

 Check out https://getkahoot.com/ for a new way to ask questions.

 Speaking and Listening Standards 

"Require students to collaborate for both comprehension and presentation. Preparation for discussions is emphasized across the grades, as is following agreed-upon rules. Students learn to adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, which they apply in all subject areas and life endeavors."AL ELA CCRS

Explicitly modeling for students your expectations for partner discussions, posting an anchor chart for reference, and practicing, practicing, practicing these agreed-upon rules will help teachers to facilitate student discussion more effectively.  

Schools in Region 11 take advantage of collaboration time at CCRS.

Region 11 planning time is being used to determine best solutions for turn-around training.

Two Wiregrass Schools Win National Honor

We are so proud of our National Blue Ribbon Schools, Heard Magnet School and Beverlye Magnet School! Both schools are located in Dothan and are part of Dothan City Schools.

Principal Maria Johnson, Superintendent Tim Wilder, Principal Peggy Maddox
Picture taken from www.nationalblueribonschools.ed.gov

Beverlye Magnet School, home of the Wildcats, is located in Dothan City Schools and serves grades six through eight.  They strive for excellence in all that they do and focus on giving students voice and choice in project-based learning and through rigorous writing assignments. “… Beverlye offers a variety of genres for students to find their true passion.  For example, awards have been earned in math, science, engineering, spelling, and band. In addition, Beverlye’s choral music, band, and theater programs provide show-stopping performances each year. Technology is front and center at Beverlye…. Likewise, Advisory/Clubs provide a broad range of opportunities for students to explore relationships and hobbies. Chess, Baking, Improv, Debate, Fitness, CSI Forensics, and Up-Scaling Furniture are but a few of the choices that students may rotate into each nine weeks. Beverlye’s success is primarily due to the commitment of administrators and faculty to participate in ongoing professional development. Over the past ten years, Beverlye’s faculty has received intensive training from the Alabama Reading Initiative and the Southern Regional Education Board. This intensive, sustainable professional development has grown a faculty that relies on best practices to create a positive, rich learning environment for all students.”

Picture taken from Beverlye PTO Facebook Page

The faculty at Heard Magnet School works diligently in their pursuit of excellence. This school ranks among the top performers in both the system and state. Heard was bestowed with the distinguished title of Torchbearer School for two consecutive years based on high achievement with low socioeconomic students. A project based curriculum is used to engage and enhance learning styles. Instruction is rigorous; teachers promote critical thinking using prior knowledge to solve problems in real-world, unpredictable situations. Spanish, Technology, and Music classes are taught by teachers with expertise in their fields. Physical Education classes include dance lessons sponsored by a local studio. An area musician conducts weekly violin lessons. Students participate in robotics, music ensembles, and a volunteer art program. Art teachers have introduced new styles and mediums each year. Projects relate to the specific academic content areas. Finished pieces are displayed in Heard’s gallery, and selected pieces are showcased at the Wiregrass Museum of Art. These activities give each child a well-rounded education preparing them for future success. 

Picture taken from www.nationalblueribonschools.ed.gov

To read the complete bio and school application, visit: 

http://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/awardwinners/