ASSIGNMENT SIX: DVD Reflection- Included in your text is a DVD containing video clips of Regie’s conferences with writers in the classroom. There is a detailed commentary accompanying the DVD on page 336 of her text. Please watch the DVD and then look at her teaching notes beginning on page 336 (Regie suggests just watching without notes first so that you don’t miss what she and the students are doing.) After both watching and reading her notes, write your reflection and please post a copy of your DVD Reflection to the blog.
*NOTE: If you experience problems playing the DVD please refer to the Writing Essentials companion website at www.heinemann.com/writingessentials for directions for playing the DVD. Look in the upper right hand corner for the link.
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My initial thought when watching the DVD is that Regie makes it look so easy! It was interesting to see that so much teaching was woven into such short conferences. The way she presented the content, it seemed as though the students could forget that they are learning. I feel like that whole class sharing would help bring some of the joy back into writing for a few particular students of mine, especially since I know that a couple students would really enjoy the attention!
ReplyDeleteIt was really helpful to see examples of how she scaffolded the conferences for the struggling writers. It gave me some ideas of how to take that back to my classroom. I like the use of the sticky notes and I have already started using that trick in my classroom. It works really well for most of my students, though I still struggle with one student who will draw on anything she can, so the sticky note becomes a distraction. This is something we will continue to work on.
I really like the idea of working on editing on the overhead, especially a student paper. This is something I will implement in my classroom because I think that is something I have not demonstrated well enough for my students. All to often, I think I “teach” the skill but then don’t do an adequate demonstration of how to use the skill. This is something I want to work on in my classroom. I also want to train my staff more effectively in how to guide student editing rather than doing it for them. Seeing Regie teach spelling was also eye-opening. I had already decided earlier in the school year that I am not satisfied with my current spelling program and need to better incorporate the sounds. Watching the video reinforced that feeling and motivated me to continue to work on improving our spelling program.
Hi Megan,
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed watching Regie and found some ideas to try out in your classroom. YEAH for my joy in writing. :)
I’ve watched videos of Regie teaching before and I am always struck by her respectful, interested, urgent tone. She really feels like what she’s doing right at that moment, with that child, is the most important thing, and that impacts the child as well as the other students who are watching. It says, this is important work – your writing matters!
ReplyDeleteI am still reticent to do whole class shares, but watching these video clips reminds me of the power in them. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been gently adding in time for sharing at the end of our literacy block and I’m still surprised at the number of students who are enthusiastic to share. I do appreciate that they can learn and be inspired by just listening to one another’s writing, but Regie takes it to another level by holding a public conference. I’m thinking about how I can make the transition from simple sharing with a compliment or two thrown in, to incorporating the powerful teaching moments that come with a skillful public conference.
I was particularly struck by the spelling lesson with Derek. I felt like it went on a little too long, but I appreciated how she firmly and kindly held him accountable for those high frequency words. As a second grade teacher, I really struggle with this! It brought to mind a book written by two of my students. During our space unit, they wrote their own information book about space. The title page of the book was “Spas.” Now, during this unit, which lasted 10 weeks, we had a classroom filled with books about space and the word space was in so many of the titles. Also, we had a word wall of words from the unit and space was there, too! I should have asked these two authors to go back and check their spelling on the cover and throughout the book. I should have held them accountable for those words.
I also love watching clips of Regie teaching! Yes, many of us were a little uncomfortable with Derek's lesson, but most also commented as you did about how she help him accountable.
ReplyDeleteYour experience with your two authors will be a great story in the coming years for your next classes as to why students need to make their writing as error-free as possible. Mistakes distract the reader from the message of the author.