Utilizing Another Adult in the Classroom (ARTICLE)
An extra adult in your room during literacy can be the best of things (when they independently work with the right students on the right things) or it can be the worst (when you aren't sure of their skills and they are unable to independently help your students). We have provided a variety of support and directions for these staff members. Sometimes what they do is dictated by the principal or district. Some lead guided reading groups at the same time we lead groups and confer one on one.
Here is our preferred way of utilizing additional support: The person meets with identified students one on one. Together we set up their own conferring notebook based on our assessments. They meet during the week with each assigned student. Once a week during one rotation the adult and I meet to review the progress the children are making and decide on next steps and the teaching required to move students along. If this one on one work is new to the adult, we may share our pensieve so they can see the kinds of notes that provide valuable information for assessment and teaching. This has become a wonderful professional development opportunity for the adults we are working with and also for us as we have upped our level of teaching as we share it with others.
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