GROUP C - Creating a Workshop for Colleagues

In Monday's class you reviewed chapters 2 and 5 from Differentiated Early Literacy for English Language Learners: Practical Strategies by Paul Boyd-Batstone. From what you and others presented and/or what you have read so far, how would you use this material to design a workshop for your school? Use the following prompts to guide your response.

• What most impressed you from the literacy based activities presented and/or what you have read in Beers and Boyd-Batestone?
• How would you structure the material to meet the needs of your colleagues?
• What challenges do you think you might encounter? How would you address them?

GROUP B - Hidden Assumptions

This past week, we've begun reading Beers What Teachers Can Do... Here are two seed questions which would be interesting to consider and respond to:

• Chapter 2 - CONFIDENCES OF ADULTS - As you listen to your colleagues in the teachers' lounge, how many of them discuss good books? What percentage of them do you think are active, engaged readers? Is there a voluntary book club at your school and, if so, how is that perceived? If not, how might you get one started? Do teachers trade strategies and discuss new ideas in pedagogy? As a teacher leader, how do you think that you could support a positive attitude towards reading?
• Chapter 3 - STUDENT FEEDBACK - Raymond (page 34 & 36) offers rather "cheeky" responses to Beers. Should we be listening more often to what students are trying to say or challenging them on how they say it? How can we listen without getting defensive? Has a student ever said something that made you rethink your assumptions?

GROUP A - Teacher Tenure

As teachers and leaders, you want to stay current with developing trends in education. One theme has been a steady attack on teacher tenure. In the 2/1/11 NY Times, they quote Mayor Bloomberg as saying:

In New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has campaigned aggressively for the state to end “last in, first out” protections for teachers. Warning that thousands of young educators face layoffs, Mr. Bloomberg is demanding that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo scrap the seniority law if the budget he will unveil Tuesday includes state cuts to education.

Based on on this, answer the following questions:

• If Mayor Bloomberg's tenure initiative prevails, what might be the impact on your school?
• What do you think are the advantages/disadvantages (if any) to...the educational system in New York...teachers?
• Is there anything else you would like to add?