Kelly's Curriculum Corner

Ever frustrated by having to explain the same thing over and over again? Ever get lost in a litany of written instructions? Jing could be the answer. Jing is a free tool that allows you, at a touch of a button, to create tutorials complete with visuals and audio. Sound complicated..... it's not. Click here for an introduction to Jing.

Yesterday, Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings, released the final regulations to NCLB. Highlights include: Uniform formula to calculate graduation rate Expand opportunities for participation in supplementary education services or SES. States must re-evaluate "n" size. It must be no larger than necessary to ensure confidentiality of individuals and statistical accuracy. This could effect AYP for the 2009-10 assessment results. The NCLB report card for LEAs must contain NAEP assessment results. The percentage of students at each achievement level on NAEP must be reported in the aggregate along side PSSA scores.                                                          ...

Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath is a fantastic book for anyone that wants to know how to get others to embrace their ideas...people like students, teachers, administrators, parents... board members.... The authors contend that the Curse of Knowledge is a major barrier to getting our ideas to stick. In fact they refer to the Curse of Knowledge as a villain, undermining all efforts to share ideas. Why? Great Question.... glad you asked! "Novices perceive concrete details as concrete details. Experts perceive concrete details as symbols of patterns and insights that they have learned through years of experience. And, because they are capable of seeing at a higher level of insight, they naturally want to talk on a higher level. They want to talk about the chess strategies, not about the bishops moving diagonally." (Heath & Heath, 2007, p. 114) The Curse of Knowledge creeps up on us. It doesn't mean we dumb down the information. Rather we need to identi...

I spent the day (with about 200 other educators) learning about differentiated instruction with Dr. Carol Ann Tomlinson. I was struck by the wonderful way Dr. Tomlinson weaves information with stories, case studies, and clarification. She facilitated the workshop as if she were a student of DI, instead of a national/international leader in the topic. A defining moment for me during the workshop was a discussion about the mindset of differentiation. Dr. Tomlinson shared that without a believe that it is possible for students to do better than they ever had before, without hope or anticipation of what could happen in the classroom for kids.... there is no foundation for differentiating instruction. In other words, optimism is the energy that propels differentiation. Without optimism there is no purpose or fuel for differentiation to grow. Reflection: Does our school demonstrate a "do whatever it takes attitude?" Do student strengths dominate the conversation? Do we make effort...

The literature on professional development is absolutely clear. Workshops alone yield 5-10% rate of implementation. However, training reinforced by instructional coaches yields about 85% rate of implementation. How do we get the greatest impact from coaching, especially if teachers in the greatest need avoid working with the coach? To address this schools are following the lead of the Boston Collaborative Coaching Model. The Boston Model is developed around the need for all teachers to work with the instructional coach, not just volunteers. All teachers are required to work with the coach. Small co-hort groups are formed every six weeks and the coach works intensely with the small group. Boyertown School District borrowed the basic structure from Boston, but focused their coaching staff even more strategically on specific grade-levels for 10 week sessions. Boyertown has two elementary literacy coaches to serve seven elementary schools. Their three-plan addresses their efforts to make t...

My good friend, Sue Kinney, Assistant Superintendent for Professional Development at Boyertown School District, shared a few wonderful instructional coaching resources with our Reading Advisory Council today. Prior to Boyertown, Sue was the Director of the PA Coaching Initiative. In other words, she knows her stuff. Sue shared some of her favorite coaching resources and I would like to pass them along: Instructional Coaching: A Partnership Approach to Improving Instruction by Jim Knight Coaching: Evoking Excellence in Others by James Flahery Community: A Structure of Belonging by Peter Block Content Focused Coaching: Transforming Math Lessons by Lucy West & Fritz Straub Taking the Lead : New Roles for School Based Coaches by Joellen Killion & Cindy Harrison Quality Teaching in an Era of Coaching by Stephen Barkley (Great intro to coaching) Differentiated Literacy Coaching: Scaffolding for Student and Teachers Success by Mary Katherine Moran Resources on the We...

Blogging is an addiction.... I never really expected to have this reaction to blogging. It kinda crept up on me. Blogging allows me access to the thinking of some amazing people. I get tons of ideas.... all for FREE. I can take advantage of these great ideas when I want, where I want. If you want to catch the blogging bug... check out a few of these favorites..... ASCD's Blog - Inservice Council for Exceptional Children - RtI School Library Journal - NeverEndingSearch Karl Fisch - The Fischbowl Doug Johnson - The Blue Skunk Blog If none of these are to taste, check out this list of educational blog favorites . It is from 2006, but the blogs I spot checked were still active. Calling all bloggers. Add your favorite blogs and corresponding links in the comments section!

What happens when innovative educators come together to share innovative ways to use Web 2.0 tools to improve learning?  A FREE Online Conference open to educators from around the world. The 2008 conference theme is Amplifying Possibilities . The conference will kickoff with a pre-conference keynote the week of October 13, 2008, which will be followed by forty presentations posted online for participants to download and view from October 20-24 and October 27-31, 2008 . Live Events will also be offered in the form of three "Fireside Chats" and a "When Night Falls" event to be announced.  More information about podcast channels and conference web feeds is available! Click here to view the K-12 Online Conference Schedule Click here to view resources for the First-time conference goers.

Blogs and wikis to document the research process? Joyce Valenza and her colleagues at Springfield Township High School in Erdenheim, PA have not only done it, they are debating which tool is the best. Click on the links below to check out examples and additional discussion. Be sure to scroll to the bottom to see the wiki examples. Blog Research Template Wiki Research Discussion and Examples Clearly the teachers love the technology tools to help students organize and build their projects in one place. What an exciting way to make research organized, relevant, and motivating for students!