Direct Instruction in Kindergarten Math: Making Partners

Norman Elementary's Kindergarten Team is in the process of developing a Math program that will meet the needs of all students in Math.  Below is a snapshot of Direct Instruction from Vicky Bowman, Title 1 & Kelly Stearns, Resource Room as they work with making "Partners of 4"

Norman Elementary's Formative Assessment Learning Team

Professional Learning Team Meets...

The focus of this Monthly meeting is Formative Assessments, CAFE & Daily 5.

We had 13 teachers attend this month for the 1 hour meeting.

During the meeting we had Casie Campbell who is a Student Teacher in Mrs. Sweet's 2nd grade classroom, share the Formative Assessments that she has been doing. Her presentation was very impressive and she has agreed to be video taped to share in more detail--so check back, her interview will be posted soon.

Stacy Gilland, one of Norman Elementary's 2nd grade teachers shared what she's been doing in CAFE.

From there we watched a couple videos from Dylan Wiliam. He has become one of my favorite Formative Assessment Specialist...

Assessment for Learning

Every Teacher Can Improve- Dylan Wiliam

After some discussion, we moved on to Jillain Cole, Kindergarten teacher who shared Daily 5, Chapter 4- Read to Self.
We watched "Launching Read to Self" from the CAFE website which included a handout, Read to Self.

Next, Kelly Stearns, Resource Teacher shared CAFE, Chapter 6-Whole Class Instruction.
We watched "Comprehension--Remembering What I Read" from the CAFE website which included a handout on Expanding Vocabulary.

Looking Ahead...
Next Month's meeting will be Monday, April 28th from 3:25-4:25 in my classroom. Please plan to attend and bring something to share that you've been doing in your classroom.
Amilia Vayda who is a Student Teacher in Mr. Mumby's 2nd grade classroom will be presenting on Daily 5-Chapter 5 and Casie will share again, this time reviewing Chapter 7 in CAFE.

Taking Common Formative Assessment School Wide

During Norman Elementary's March "Learning Communities" we will review
Writing Folders as a possible Common Formative Assessment then break into small groups.

Book Share:

 Here's a peek at the Chapters in this book:
Chapter 1- Why Educational Achievement Matters
Chapter 2- The Case for Formative Assessment
Chapter 3- Clarifying, Sharing, and Understanding Learning Intentions and success Criteria
Chapter 4- Eliciting Evidence of Learners' Achievement
Chapter 5- Providing Feedback that Moves Learning Forward
Chapter 6- Activating Students as Instructional resources for One Another
Chapter 7- Activating Students as Owners of Their Own Learning

Here's a quick video clip by Dylan Wiliam--author of Embedded Formative Assessment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3HRvFsZHoo

"Dylan Wiliam stresses the importance of formative assessment as a key process for increasing teacher quality while having the biggest impact on student outcomes. He looks at some of the popular initiatives that aim to increase student achievement, such as learning styles, and presents research that shows formative assessment practices have a much greater impact on educational achievement than most other reforms."