Helping others learn this week.
    I joined the Twitter session on Tuesday night. I'm beginning to relax with Twitter a bit.  I appreciated the comments on my research topic.

    I enjoyed Leslie’s blog and added to the conversation by discussing her project on vocabulary training.  I’m interested in following her work.  I also told her about the way our first grade core is implementing the new standards.  I agreed with what she said about the limits we have because of time.  I’m thinking that the system we are using is helpful for that.

    I was able to check out Amanda’s blog.  She had a great write up on the literacy aspects of the changes in the standards.  I’m hoping that my comments helped her with her research topic.

    Tiffany’s research question is interesting.  She is planning to investigate distance learning programs for kids.  I tried to ask questions that might help her in her quest.

What I learned:
    Pearltree .com is very cool.  So is Cybrarian.  I’m excited to learn more about these tools.

    I enjoyed the discussion on spelling and vocabulary on Leslie’s blog.  One of the comments on her blog sent me to Amazon to put a new book on my wishlist:  Bringing Words To Life: Robust Vocabulary Instruction.  I’m looking forward to reading that.
#seaccr

#seaccr  
Essential questions #1:  How does the shift in the Alaska Language Arts standards impact teaching and learning in my classroom?

     Although I have talked to many fearful parents about Common Core changes, I find myself very interested and even appreciative of their impact.  I believe that Alaska has forged it’s own way in a moderate and reasonable way.  I appreciate that collectively we have a greater emphasis on teach standards.  I’m happy to release some of the stranglehold that packaged curriculum has had on our schools.  Our curriculums have been good and in first grade they are still relevant.  But not every lesson is appropriate or effective.  And without a doubt not every lesson can be optimal for our students needs.  Teaching to the standards has given us a path for greater creativity and greater emphasis on what really matters.  I feel liberated.  It feels like I have been freed to get to the meat of the matter.
     The article entitled, “Mano a Mano, Arts Based Nonfiction and Content Area” was a case in point.  The first graders using artistic means of learning were inspiring.  As a first grade teacher I’m excited to be able to try new more creative means of bringing education to my kids.
     I also appreciate the streamlining offered by both common core and Alaska standards. 
      “Fewer and more Rigorous Standards:  Standards at each grade level may decrease in number but the expectation for depth of knowledge will be deeper.  What this means is that your child may be asked to master content that was not at their grade level before, but more time will be allowed to practice the content for mastery rather than the spiral curriculum of repeating the same content for several years” (Amyw, 2012).
     My final point is what has led me to my research question.  The common core and new Alaska standards allow for a more student centered approach to education. 
     “Student-centered:  Students will engage in learning opportunities that allow them to acquire Habits of Mind, or dispositions towards learning and life.  These cannot be acquired through excessive worksheets but rather when students are allowed opportunities to practice 21st Century Skills by exploring content, manipulating it and sharing their mastery of the content in ways that are hands-on and engaging” (Kist, 2013).

Essential question #2:  What is the question I would like to research over the next eight weeks?

            My question originates from the age-old question that nearly all teachers of primary aged children ask:  “What do I do with the rest of the class during reading group time?”  The question is really, “How can I teach children to be independent literacy learners?” 
            I believe that the answers to this question goes beyond classroom management.  It is, in essence, teaching the children to take ownership for their learning.  It is directly teaching children to “love to learn” and to do it without adult direction.  Although this sounds like a “pipedream”, I believe that there are powerful methods that can teach these skills to even very young children.  I’m excited to try them out!

References

Amyw. (2012, March 13).  A Parent's Guide to the Common Core Standards | All Things Common Core. Retrieved September 20, 2013, from http://allthingscommoncore.com/content/parents-guide-common-core-standards

Bryce, N. (2012). "Mano a Mano": Arts-based nonfiction literacy and content area learning. Language Arts, 89.3, 179-193.

Kist, W. (2013, March). New literacies and the common core.  Retrieved September 19, 2013, from http://seaccr.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/new-literacies-and-the-common-core.pdf