Friday, February 18, 2011

Making Comprehension Visible


I am currently working with a group of educators in central Ohio and the Literacy Connection. Our focus this year is Teaching with Intention by Debbie Miller. This post is in response to chapter 5, Swimming with Sharks.  

Debbie provides explicit lesson details for making comprehension visible; she explains that it is not her intention that teachers follow her plans explicitly. "The point is to know who you are and what you're about when you're teaching based on your beliefs, your students, and the environment you are creating."

Just as Debbie is explicit in her language for her students she provides explicit language for teachers. Debbie suggests when looking at your lessons you ask yourself the following:

    • How does the lesson support where you are now as a class?
    • How will lesson support new learning? Is the lesson engaging? Is it visible? Does the lesson provide choices? Are the kids interested in the content? Will the lesson lead to independence?
    • Will students have time to practice new learning, receive feedback? How will you support the kids? How will you assess the kids?
    • Where will this lesson take the learning?

Debbie's words give me room to breathe and the confidence to think about my kids, what works in our room and what works for me, the teacher.







1 comment:

  1. I love these words, "Debbie's words give me room to breathe..." I couldn't of said it better!

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