Taking on the Challenge

It is that time of year in districts -- winter assessments, report cards and parent conferences. Do you find that for some of your students, this is a joyous celebration of growth and success? And for others who don't make the progress hoped for, it can be a time of discouragement and frustration?

We were chatting with a teacher who had just finished her student's assessments. She was recording the data on the excel sheet to be turned in to the district. This intelligent teacher was remarking on how disheartening it was to see so many of her student's cells filled with numbers that showed less than desirable growth. "I am not frustrated with my students," she remarked. "They are working hard. The results necessitate me taking a look at differing my instruction to better meet my student's needs. After all, I don't teach cells on an excel sheet, I teach children! I'm excited and energized by the challenge."

"Success comes to people who are willing to take on challenges." Ann Curry.

FAQ

Q: How can I adapt I-PICK for older students?

A: This is a great question, and our friend Lynn Senecal from the Quebec school system has done just that. Her refinements take the elementary version of I-PICK to a new level that is truly suitable for 7th-12th graders. Lynn and the teachers she works with want their students to "sustain reflective book selections", so they've adapted the I-Pick bookmark, since most teenagers like control, they changed the I to mean Independence. We love it.

http://www.TheDailyCafe.com/public/824.cfm

Teenage Brain...In Progress (Website)
Have you ever wondered what makes the teenager you are teaching or living with tick?
This article may give you insight as to what is going on in the brain of the teenager you are interacting with.
http://www.TheDailyCafe.com/public/823.cfm

Registration Information for 2010 Workshops

Registrations for our 2010 workshops are filling fast, so we wanted to make sure you look at your calendars and see if we will be in a city close to you. We would love to spend the day with you.

http://www.thedailycafe.com/public/754.cfm

New This Week For Members

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Between Daily 5 Rotations

This video showing a transition between two rounds, accomplishes two things. Students check in with a 1-5 scale on how they got started right away and as well as share their reading and writing. Notice the time on the ticker...efficient and productive.

http://www.TheDailyCafe.com/members/766.cfm

Perfect Poems (Lesson)

What's the best way to learn sight words? No matter what you call them...high frequency words, heart words, popcorn words or bubble gum words; children need to learn them.

While flash cards can work, it's important for children to learn to read them in context too. Trish Prentice helped her students with this by writing a group of tiny poems. They are short, easy to learn and the children love them. No matter the age of students you have, if they are beginning readers, these poems are sure to be a favorite.

http://www.TheDailyCafe.com/members/821.cfm

Parent Pipeline-Back Up and Reread (Download)

Have you ever been reading a book, gotten to the end of a page and realized you didn't remember anything you just read? There is only one thing we can do to get full meaning out of what we are reading. We need to back up and reread and then check for understanding again...

Once you have introduced this strategy, follow up by sending home the Parent Pipeline so parents are able to assist with this strategy at home.

http://www.TheDailyCafe.com/members/822.cfm