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| "Narration, narration, narration--some tips" http://faith.thatresourcesite.com/modules/AMS/article.php?storyid=7 |
It was so good to see each of you today at the conference, and to meet many new attendees! In planning each year, I try to alternate between a best practices approach and a "back to the basics" approach regarding preparing your students for high school. Last year involved books/reading with Mrs. Ayala from St. Thomas More and writing with Katie Byrd from St. Martin's. This was the year to go back to check our base line and evaluate how we're doing and where we must be ever vigilant.
I know that some of my basic and perhaps "old-fashioned" approaches almost seem too low-tech, but please do not dismiss them. These tools have been around for centuries and eons--think about Homer, for instance; how did he recall such a vast story? He narrated! Lessons used to be recited. Our students are, as Jane said, surface skimmers with so much available data. How to make them slow down and focus, slow down and attend--that is the dilemma. I promise, it works. But you must be diligent. The good thing is that it's easy! Narration and copy work do not take much in the way of materials; you already have what you need. Let me know if you try it and how it works in your classroom. Start small and grow your students. Try it yourself! I'm very excited about the Sentence Composing book we'll be using here at SPX in the fall. I hope you try this for yourselves with the Middle School version.
Here is what I'm working on for the future. Several of you mentioned two meetings--one for fall and spring. I am working on a visit from Dawn Burnette of DGP fame in the fall. This (October) would be a 9-12 meeting and she (or one of her reps) will not only show you all the ins and outs of DGP, but also explain other components she has developed, including a very interesting writing program! She also has one for spelling, reading comprehension, and vocabulary! Please let me know if you would be interested in this.
For next spring, 2013 (the same week before spring break, but next year it will be on a Thursday), we will have a Best Practices Day, with ideas presented on both sides of the divide. I will show you some fun ways to work with short stories and poetry and will get with each school group to see about presenting some of your very best curricular plans.
Some of you mentioned things you would like to know or see that have been covered in previous meetings, and I realize that I should make some of our past handouts available to newer attendees. So, in the near future I will provide links to these documents.
Again, thank you for coming. We are SO THANKFUL for each of you; you have no idea how much you enrich not only our students' lives, but also ours. Have a great spring break and rest of the year!
