Today, I focused again on general observations. I wanted to get a better feel for the non-traditional classroom atmosphere and set-up. It was very interesting to see that every grade, from 5th to 8th grade, was working on the same materials/homework and how Mr. Del Pozo's expectations varied for each section. I also learned how their grading system works and talked with Mr. Del Pozo about how he assesses his ELL students.
Each grade level works with the same Compass Learning or Scholastic Read 180 programs. Students are also given the same requirements. The Independent Reading rotation is differentiation for each student based upon their Lexile numbers. Before beginning the school year, each ELL student is required to take a test that measures his/her reading ability. This gives both the students and the teacher and idea of their ability level and what texts they can read/comprehend. Lexile numbers are also given to books in order to categorize them by difficulty and comprehension level. Students can then use these numbers to pick out books to read throughout the semester.
-students worked in small groups/pairs to take each other's tests
-led small groups
-grading
Wednesday February 29, 2012 (2.5hrs)
-whole class instruction: present/past tense & word families
-instructional software time
-jeopardy game: 5th & 6th graders = vocabulary jeopardy; 7th & 8th graders = story development jeopardy
Wednesday February 29, 2012 (2.5hrs)
-whole class instruction: present/past tense & word families
-instructional software time
-jeopardy game: 5th & 6th graders = vocabulary jeopardy; 7th & 8th graders = story development jeopardy
