Teacher to Teacher

Tip 12   Data Driven Decisions Researches have shown the benefits of using data to make instructional decisions that lead to improve students’ academic performance. One of the best strategies to improve our school achievement is the utilization of a variety of assessments and multiple data to support well-informed instructional decisions. Data driven teaching and learning processes must be broaden and should include: attendance, teacher-student discourse, interactions, students’ emotional discipline, portfolio, different activities records and traditional assignments and grades. Student data and data-based recommendation should be readily available to every teacher involved in the student education process, including Resource teachers and Fine Arts teachers. Data collection demonstrates the measure of knowledge students have mastered and must be the driving force for staff planning instructions and interventions.

Tip 11 Encouraging Reading Tips ·          Increment independent reading. Students should be encouraged to read for pleasure. ·          Provide reading options. A variety of reading opportunities and selection would be offered to all children, from books, magazines, newspapers, brochures, posters to web sites. Students should also visit the School Library every day to select a book to read. ·          Effective monitoring of students’ independent reading. They should be accountable for reading. ·          Ask students question about what they are reading. ·          Reward children that keep consistency in reading and are progressing academically.

Tip 10 Nurture a Love for Reading One of the greatest areas of need among our students is indeed a love for reading. Many students read because they are told to read and for fear of failing in test scores. There is a great need to create a culture of readers that read because they enjoy reading; reading for the love of reading. One way to nurture a love for reading is by having students selecting books that relate to their culture and literature that relates to their curiosities and interests. It is also important that students read books according to their reading levels. Once students get to the habit of reading, then reading becomes fun and a very exciting activity.

Tip 9  Individualized Instructions Accommodations and modifications should always be in place during instruction and during assessments. Whether the student has a special need or a different learning style, we need to consider the benefits of making modifications to reach for the student in all dimensions. For example, awesome teacher can present directions orally and visually. Students are constantly checked for understanding and comprehension. Assignments and assessments are presented with plenty of examples of right and wrong. Teacher uses visuals, graphics, images, music, sounds and gestures to convey information and expectations effectively.

Tip 8  Assessments for Leaning It is very important to use teaching strategies to help students before, during and after assessments. Scaffolding, peer tutoring and small group assessment are scientifically proven to be effective strategies to assist students. Scaffolding teaching provides individualized support based on the level of ability of every student. Awesome teachers scaffold through a lesson and assessments. We call it in my classes: “I do, We do, You do”. Peer mentoring and small group assessments encourage students to learn from each other. It enhances motivation and increases sense of responsibility for one’s own learning.

Tip 7  Portfolio Assessment Portfolios serve as meaningful sources of information for students, teachers, and parents. These assessments reflect participation, mastering of concepts and skills that was emphasized during classes. Student portfolio is a collection of student work that includes preparatory, in-progress, and finished working sheets, quizzes and reflections. There are many advantages of portfolio assessment. It provides authenticity, originality and is the best capable way of evaluating qualities unique to the students. It provides information and insight into student’s abilities, which cannot be done using conventional assessment methods. Portfolios makes the act of assessment itself a learning opportunity for students as they attain great self-awareness, confidence and reflectivity.