It's the Name of the GAME

First NETS – T (2008) standard chosen to strengthen: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Resources Needed: I will need the Internet to research types of authentic problems I could use for mathematics in fourth grade.  My colleagues will work closely with me to develop a more authentic mathematics curriculum for the fourth graders.  We will use our Everyday Math textbooks, our district Course of Study and our state (Pennsylvania) standards to guide us.  We will use teacher resource books, teacher magazines, and my Walden University materials to assist our planning.  Sample rubrics will serve as models when we write them with our students.  Together we will also create a form to self-assess what we did and how we did it.  Also, we are going to develop a pre-assessment to more closely guide our instruction and differentiation.  We will need input from our ELL teachers and our special education teachers.

Additional information needed:  It is possible our state standards may be revised for next year.  If that is the case we need the new standards to make sure we are covering what should be taught in order for students to perform well on state testing.  Input from third grade teachers on students’ individual needs would be helpful.  Which students have IEPs?  What adaptations work with them?  Which students do not speak English?  What skills are third graders weak in that need reinforcement in fourth grade?  Which students need enrichment in math?  Which math topics are students most interested in?  Which sites do we want to use that are blocked by the district filters?  Can we get the block removed from them?

Steps taken so far:  The fourth grade teachers and I met for the first planning session today.  We decided to begin with a daily math schedule.  After that was agreed upon, we decided which skills needed to be reviewed daily or weekly in the daily math routine.  Much discussion occurred around specific methods and materials for daily routine practices.  Some specific methods and materials were agreed upon.  We made the next meeting date for next Wednesday.  The goals we set to accomplish before next Wednesday were to create a poster of math strategies and another of key vocabulary words that indicate specific operations.  The goals we set for our next meeting are to iron out more daily routine details and to begin specific plans for September.  It is so exciting to implement what we are learning!



Second NETS – T (2008) standard chosen to strengthen: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Resources Needed:  I will need the Internet to search for various differentiation tools and sites.  I just handed in bubble sheets for our latest benchmark assessment.  It is the final benchmark for this year.  I will use our Performance Tracker tool to analyze the data.  Using the data I can determine overall and individual mathematic needs of our students.  I can preprogram Compass Odyssey with lessons each individual student needs practice with as early as next week.  If it is all set up now students will have assignments in their folders ready at the beginning of next year.  I am going to introduce Anchor Folders to the teachers next year.  Students will be provided with an Anchor Folder for math.  This folder will contain practice worksheets, games, and Internet sites for students to use to improve on, or be enriched with, their math skills when they need assistance with.  Also, I need to coordinate with our ELL teachers to find resources for our students who speak very little English, and with our special education teachers to differentiate instruction for our IEP students.  Finally, I will need to meet with the previous teachers to analyze individual students needs and determine strategies to begin using at the beginning of next year.

Additional information needed:  What other programs are available to enable our students to practice skills they are having trouble with?og  In addition, what resources are available (other than Compass Odyssey) to enrich our high achieving students?  How can I improve the data gathering process for new students?  Our population is very transient and we keep starting over with each new student.  Are there other programs similar to Compass Odyssey that will benefit our students?

Steps taken so far:  I am almost finished testing every first and second grade student, one-on-one, on math early numeracy.  I have created data charts for each grade, for each class and for each student.  The data charts are color coded by proficiency level and show, at a quick glance, individual student achievement.  I share these charts at grade level math data meetings I run monthly.  At my next data meeting (June) I am going to model how to assign specific assignments on Compass Odyssey for students.  As soon as the latest data is in the computer, the charts will need to be updated again.  I have the ability to break down individual scores by eligible content.  I have done this for each benchmark assessment so far.  I am going to do this by class for each teacher.  I will review with teachers the overall grade level trends and also the ones in their individual classes.  I am going to have each teacher use a form I developed to analyze their class weaknesses.  On this form they will list their classes’ three most obvious weaknesses, reflect upon and write down why they feel they were weaknesses and how that could be prevented for next year.  As an instructional leader I need to make teachers aware of good instruction and how to improve it when and where necessary.  I can offer suggestions, strategies and my assistance in this endeavor.

References:
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use: A Standards-Based Approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_for_Teachers_2008.htm