Kim Bass’s presentation at Cotsen’s first-ever Playground Challenge was literally garbage. But as regularly happens in innovative classrooms, a pile of trash can yield pedagogical treasures to facilitate collaborative STEM/STEAM teaching and learning. Bass, a third grade teacher at Robert C. Fisler School in Fullerton, stood in front of a table covered with a maze […]
There is a considerable body of research that speaks to the effectiveness of coaching as a tool for improving instruction. Having another set of friendly eyes in a classroom to provide feedback enables teachers to remain focused and relentless in their pursuit of excellence. Consequently, the ART of TEACHING is committed to providing the highest […]
Collaborative professional teams are essential tools for growth and improvement in schools. As a result, just as the Cotsen Foundation for the ART of TEACHING creates powerful learning communities among mentors and fellows to improve their individual teaching practices, the foundation also offers dynamic leadership networks to school administrators and coaches, to support their efforts […]
Think Like a Publisher Heidi Cockerill, 4th Grade Teaching Point: Writers make their writing interesting to readers by adding a variety of text features to increase engagement. Common Core State Standards: W.4.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. W.4.2. A Introduce a topic clearly and group related […]
Offering Opinions Kristine Spencer, 1st Grade Teaching Point: Writers agree or disagree with their partner’s opinion by giving a reason. Common Core State Standards: W.1.1 Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion and provide […]
GAFE within the Reader’s Workshop Classroom Debra Kojima, 6th Grade Teaching Point: Good book club members and readers keep the conversation going by asking powerful questions. Common Core State Standards: RL.6.1 Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as drawing inferences from the text. RL.6.3 […]
Noticing Craft Moves & Providing Feedback in Informational Text Tracey Anderson, 2nd Grade Teaching Point: Writers study nonfiction books by noticing an author’s Craft Moves to provide constructive feedback. Craft Moves Definition: These are tools and techniques a skilled author uses in storytelling to craft a piece of writing. The reader may notice that […]
Using GAFE in the Writer’s Workshop Classroom Debra Kojima, 6th Grade Teaching Point: Good writers increase the level of learning by organizing their learning into sections. Common Core State Standards: W.6.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant […]
Reading Like an Expert Kristina Cathcart, 2nd Grade Teaching Point: Writers fluently record their nonfiction books by scooping up phrases in order to make their reading sound smooth, like talking and reading like an expert. Common Core State Standards: W.1 Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and […]