Lori Sabo
July 3, 2015
Issue #363
Does your mind ever make strange connections that make you think, Where did that come from? It happened to me recently when I was in my seat, ready for takeoff, on my way to work with Gail and Joan at a conference.
I was reminiscing about my limited skiing experience. After getting started, I slid on the bunny slope for a bit, but since I couldn't stop, I kept going until I fell down or ran into something. The strange thought was I am so glad this pilot can fly better than I can ski. Bizarre, I know. I am sharing it with all of you because pilot proficiently get us from point A to point B over and over, and we can learn a lesson from what happens along the way.
We place ourselves in the experienced hands of the pilot and trust him or her completely to get us to our destination. If you are like me, you are happier when there is a map on the seatback in front of you that shows where you are in relation to the goal.
And there is the connection to what we do every day and why ongoing, formative assessment is so important. It provides our students with a glimpse of “Here is where we are going, where we are now, and where we will move next to get you closer to the end point.”
On the first day of school, our students place themselves in our care. They trust that we will get them from point A to point B before the school year ends. We can make their journey even more pleasant by frequently and transparently showing them right where they are, and clearly taking them where they need to go with instruction that matters.
News from The Daily CAFE
Questions Answered…
Does Daily 5 and CAFE work with a basal series or with Units of Study?
By keeping a couple of things in mind, a basal can successfully be woven into the Daily 5 structure and the CAFE Menu system.
Purposeful Practice…
Meaningful Mental Math*
Mental math helps develop number sense, math fluency, and confidence. It is a critical component of daily math exercise.
Assessment Matters…
What If Children Don’t Apply the Whole-Group Lesson Immediately?*
If we teach a focus lesson and don’t see children putting it into immediate practice, we don’t worry. Here’s why.
Try Today…
Tune In to Interesting Words; Grade-Level-Specific Lessons*
Brief Focus Lessons, which take on a purposeful and explicit tone, last about 7–10 minutes, maximizing student potential for engagement and retention. Select the lesson that matches your grade level.
Focus on Health…
Within Our Reach
Choose tasks that are close at hand, and work on fixing them with confidence.
*Available to members
Professional Development Opportunities
2015 Live WorkshopsWe love meeting teachers at our workshops. At each location, the first day will focus on Daily 5 and Math Daily 3. Day two is a new CAFE Intensive.
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2015 Online SeminarsPrefer short bursts of information combined with independent learning? Each session offers separate seminars on Daily 5, CAFE and Math Daily 3. Learn more about Daily 5 and CAFE workshops, online seminars, and online graduate courses. Up & Running with the Daily 5Our new how-to video, shot in third-grade and fifth-grade classrooms, is available through subscription for online streaming or as a DVD at Stenhouse Publishers. |