November+16,+2009

=Collaboration Meeting Agenda:=

Pick a name at random to write the minutes: [|random_name_selector_collaboration.ppt]

1. Brain Research (brief think-share activity)  2. Expository Formative Assessment  3. Improving Student Engagement
 * **Two of the points from the Literacy Training to think about:**
 * The more the learner struggles, the sooner they need to have active sensory input. They must personally act upon what you are asking them to learn.
 * What does this mean for our daily lessons?
 * In order to learn, students need a processing break every 7 to 12 minutes. (TV programmers understand this, we need to also)
 * What does this mean for our daily lessons?
 * Do we agree on the format?
 * 2 before Winter Break, 2 after Winter Break, then the Benchmark Assessment
 * Use the entire rubric to give students their feedback.
 * Continue to use the 4-point scale when recording results (based on the overall score--see example)
 * [|Rubric for Expository Essay.doc]
 * Credit/No Credit in the Formative section of the Writing grade or continue to assign points based on performance on a sliding scale like we did last quarter with the Narrative?
 * Grade samples from last year's Intermediate level according to the rubric
 * What are the expectations?
 * Is the rubric based on standards?
 * Is the rubric easy to use?
 * This has not gone away!
 * I need your help:
 * Someone to re-organize the page and categorize each engagement strategy (speaking, writing, reading--some strategies will be in more than one category, of course)
 * Members to continue to post links to pages that you create detailing how to implement new engagement strategies as you discover/use them.
 * Members to begin discussions, one member each week, in which we reflect on the strategies we used during the past week, what we used it for, how it went, and how to make it a better learning event.

=Minutes:= Went over research at the top of the page. -Students need a processing break every twelve minutes. Expository Formative Assessment -Discussed giving the two tests during the two final weeks before break and the two weeks after we get back from break. -PLC pull out date is possibly January 25 -Give the entire rubric to the students, not just part of the rubric. -We are going to give the students full or no credit for the assessment during the first two weeks. The final two weeks we will grade like normal. Rubric/Prompt -Students can use the prompt in their introduction, however, make sure they don't focus too much on trying to put all the information from the prompt in their introduction. -Circle the "direction words" in the prompt. -Look at the questions from above for more questions to think about for next time. -Use week 5 as a practice prompt.