PLC 1.30

We have decided to ground our work in a book study.  We have decided that we would like to study Kelly Gallagher's Deeper Reading and look at ways to improve students' abilities to implement higher level thinking skills within their reading of texts.  During our search for a book, I found a link that covers many possible literacy strategies we could try out, so I am including it here.

http://www.learningpt.org/literacy/adolescent/strategies.php

PLC Meeting 1.23

Casey Weyls and Will Darter are joining our PLC this semester.

As a PLC, we decided to focus on the following Common Core Standard:

KCK12R11W9

Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

a. Apply grades 11–12 Reading standards to literature (e.g. “Demonstrate knowledge of eighteenth-, nineteenth- and early- twentieth-century foundational works of American literature, including how two or more texts from the same period treat similar themes or topics”).

b. Apply grades 11–12 Reading standards to literary nonfiction (e.g. “Delineate and evaluate the reasoning in seminal U.S. texts, including the application of constitutional principles and use of legal reasoning [e.g., in U.S. Supreme Court Case majority opinions and dissents] and the premises, purposes, and arguments in works of public advocacy [e.g., The Federalist, presidential addresses]”). (CC.W.11-12.9) 

We chose this standard as the anchor for our work this semester because we wanted to focus on deepening student understanding and on increasing their ability to demonstrate that understanding through writing.

Big Idea #1: Ensuring That Students Learn

 What will our PLC try that will impact student learning?

Use of Bloom's to push students through the higher levels of analysis

Use of Active Reading/Annotation to aid student comprehension of texts

Use of comprehension questions directly after reading to gauge understanding

Use the 6 trait writing process to evaluate and encourage students to produce deeper and more meaningful writing

 

 How will this contribute to student success in the classroom and increased student achievement for all students?

Students have to have these skills to be successful in English, and they will transfer to all other content.  These are also necessary skills for college readiness.

Big Idea #2: A Culture of Collaboration

How will we work together to impact student learning?

We will read various research on these topics, attempt new strategies, and collectively share the results of our experiences.

Big Idea #3: A Focus on Results

What results will we measure to determine if our effort improves student learning?  Will come back to this question.