Reading and literacy are critical skills that each student must master if they are to succeed in their education and life. However, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to teaching students these important skills. With the help of Dr. Louisa Moats and Chance Spiker, we discover how teachers can access the tools needed to ensure that every student becomes literate and develops a love of reading. You’ll also learn about the benefits of relevant professional development and it’s direct correlation to students’ literacy test scores. Take a listen to learn more.
We'd like to invite you to join Dr. Sally Ride and Dr. Karen Flammer, founders of Sally Ride Science; WeAreTeachers founder Sandy Fivecoat; and American College of Education's Dr. Shawntel Landry and Ms. Debra Cannon, as they discuss their ideas and strategies for bringing science to the forefront of your classroom—and your students' dreams.
Can you imagine what your classroom would be like if your students actually enjoyed taking tests and quizzes? Betty Morales, a high school science teacher and Anna Sexton, a campus instructional technologist, have discovered the key to making this possible.
byWATstaff
on 09-23-201104:22 PM - last edited on 09-23-201104:26 PM
In this WATcast we spoke to Dr. Kay MacPhee the President and Owner of Ooka Island Inc. about early literacy, particularly focusing on emergent readers. Kay explains the importance of assessment and how to incorporate it into your early learning classrooms. Listen or download to learn more.
byWATstaff
on 08-15-201105:13 PM - last edited on 01-25-201203:39 PM by emacphe
We sat down with Melissa Chavez, the Executive Director, of UT Elementary School to discuss the elementary school's newly published book, "Teaching to the Spirit of Every Child: Lessons Learned in Urban Education.” The book was a collective effort authored by the entire staff at UT Elementary. Their goal was to give pre-service and in-service teachers tangible examples of the latest teaching research. It also has two methods woven into all of its chapters; the first is response to intervention and the second is social and emotional learning. Plus, Melissa talks about the school's latest initiative called the "The Healthy Families Initiative." This is UT Elementary's program to prevent childhood obesity and promote play and physical activity. Take a listen to learn more about UT Elementary, their new book, and identify some great teaching ideas for your classroom.
About UT Elementary: The University of Texas at Austin has undertaken many initiatives to increase the number of students who are the first in their families to attend college. The University of Texas Elementary School is key to this effort. It is not only a community engagement initiative with the goal of increasing the number of under-represented students in the college pipeline; it is a model for other schools in East Austin and beyond. UT Elementary’s administrators and teachers provide training to other teachers and help other elementary schools bridge the gap between theory, research, and practice.
About the book: This book largely focuses on Response to Intervention (RTI), dictates that each student should receive a level of instruction appropriate to his or her need; and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) promotes self-awareness and emotion detection that lead to a constructive self-concept and collaborative relationships with peers and others, by largely contributing to positive classroom and school climate, allowing for more learning to take place. To purchase the book go here.
Please note to download this podcast you will need to right click on the player and click "Save As."
byWATstaff
on 05-06-201101:51 PM - last edited on 05-12-201104:01 PM by wgoodwin
In this WATcast we were inspired by Nancy Sindelar's book Assessment Powered Teaching.
So, we asked her to join us to discuss how teachers can begin to use
testing to help customize their lessons to better meet the needs of
their students. Nancy outlines simple tools and tricks teachers can use
to better understand and utilize testing data in the classroom. She also
gives great examples on how assessment data can be used by students to
give them insight into their learning and own their progress. Take a
listen to find out more.
We spoke to Imelda O'Neill and Connie Ramsey who have over 50 years
combined teaching experience. Imelda and Connie currently focus on
literacy and response to intervention, but over the years they've taught
a wide variety of classes and ages. Take a listen as these two teachers
get real, with fantastic tips and ideas for teaching with limited
resources and funding. You'll even get some great advice on how to help
struggling readers!
Reading A-Z: Offers thousands of printable teacher materials to teach leveled reading, phonemic awareness, reading comprehension, reading fluency, alphabet, and vocabulary.
Raz Kids: Students can practice reading to improve reading comprehension and reading fluency anywhere with Internet access.
Reading Counts:
Technology-based program creates a personalized and engaging learning
environment that ensures independent reading accountability.
Book It Program: Find many program enhancements including tracking sheets, awards, calendars and tips.
Core Reading Programs:
Advisor at all levels of K–12 education, working collaboratively with
educators to support literacy and math achievement growth for all
students.
Reallygreatreading.com:
Make assessment and grouping efficient and accurate and make reading
instruction interactive, explicit, structured, and multisensory.
AIMSweb.com: A benchmark and progress monitoring system based on direct, frequent and continuous student assessment.
DIBELS.org:
Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) are a set of
procedures and measures for assessing the acquisition of early
literacy skills from kindergarten through sixth grade.
byWATstaff
on 03-21-201102:22 PM - last edited on 03-21-201102:46 PM
In honor of March being National Nutrition month this WATcast is all
about getting healthy! With the help of Judy Dodd, the current chairman
of the American Dietetic Association Foundation, we are discussing the
latest research and guidelines for leading a healthy lifestyle. Judy
gives great examples and tips for how to incorporate health and
nutrition into your lessons and how you can make it fun for your
students. Take a listen to learn more!
We spoke to Donna Maxim, a 2nd grade teacher in Boothbay Harbor, Maine,
about the importance of including non-fiction books in your classroom.
Donna has a classroom library that rivals her school's library so she
has terrific insight into how including a variety of non-fiction books
can help you teach literacy. Take a listen to get some great ideas on
how to expand your classroom library, incorporate nonfiction titles into
your lessons and get helpful recommendations on authors and resources
for your own classroom.
With the rise of social media and the outbreak of cyber bullying, it is
important to give students today the social and emotional tools to
confront this type of conflict. With this in mind, we discussed the
importance of social and emotional learning in school with Ann Epstein
at the HighScope Foundation. Take a listen to gain insight on how kids
gain the emotional tools they need to be safe online and to learn how
you can begin to incorporate this type of learning into your curriculum.
byWATstaff
on 12-22-201003:05 PM - last edited on 12-22-201003:09 PM
We spoke to Carolyn Jaynes, Leapfrog Learning Team's literacy expert,
about information and communication technologies (ICTs). There are a
variety of ICTs - websites, blogs, emails, search engines, podcasts,
YouTube and more - but the ICT we focus on during this WATcast is
e-books.
This WATcast highlights the benefits of e-books and how they promote
literacy and learning among different skill levels. Some key points
include how e-books help advance student engagement and problem solving
as well as which groups of students benefit most from using e-books.
Resources to get e-books in your classroom:
Grant Opportunities
For more information about using stimulus funds for Apple educational technology solutions and professional development, visit: http://www.apple.com/education/ or call 1-800-800-2775.
1.) Digital Media & Learning initiative aims to determine how
digital media are changing the way young people learn, play, socialize
and participate in civic life.
4.) September ebook case study: "The Reading Teacher" - includes response behaviors of two second grade girls as they read a book on a digital reading device.
byWATstaff
on 11-19-201002:56 PM - last edited on 11-19-201003:00 PM
We spoke to Clay Shouse, VP of the HighScope Foundation, about how
the HighScope approach serves and benefits students in each of its
diverse global markets. Take a listen to the WATcast to gain insight on
the global differences in parent involvement, learn more about
HighScopes unique approach to problem solving as well as opportunities
for you to get involved!
Teachers interested in learning more about the HighScope methodology should:
We spoke to Clement Chau about the appropriate uses of technology in
schools and at home. Mr Chau is currently a Learning Designer at
Leapfrog Enterprises, Inc. and a Ph.D. candidate at the Eliot-Pearson
Department of Child Development at Tufts University in Massachusetts. In
this WATcast we discuss a range of issues from the importance of
training teachers to the proper and effective uses of technology in the
classroom. Take a listen and let us know what you think!
This WATcast references:
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) National
Educational Technology Standards for Teachers. To read the full report click here.
The University of Southern California New Media Literacies white
paper on "Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture: Media
Education for the 21st Century." To read the full report click here.
byWATstaff
on 10-28-201001:11 PM - last edited on 11-19-201002:43 PM by Staff
We spoke to Dr. Peter Vander Haeghen about how you can find a valuable professional development experience. Take a listen to get some great tips about how to select a professional advancement program that is right for you, and how to take what you learn in the course and apply it to your classroom.
byWATstaff
on 09-20-201011:08 AM - last edited on 10-28-201001:13 PM
We spoke to 2 expert panelists, Dr. MaryFriend Shepard and George Engel, about a recent report commissioned by Walden University's Richard W. Riley College of Education & Leadership. The report dispels five myths about educators use of technology. Take a listen to get some great tips about how you can begin to use technology in your classroom, access technology-centric professional development courses and engage in conversations around technology with your school administrators.
byWATstaff
on 08-20-201003:14 PM - last edited on 10-28-201001:24 PM
Archive for July, 2010
Friday, July 9th, 2010
We spoke to 4 teachers within their first 5 years of teaching to learn more about what its like for new teachers beginning their careers as educators. Take a listen to get some great teaching ideas, hear funny stories, and learn more about what its like for new educators.
milliediana
on:
Teachers use of Technology in the Classroom
