WHAT GREAT TEACHERS DO DIFFERENTLY

14 Things That Matter Most

Chapters 14-16PLC : December 13, 2011LSHS Curriculum Specialists: Aaron Locklear and Sherry Odom

StarterTurn to your shoulder partner and

briefly discuss the following:

Why should teachers avoid “teaching to the middle” of the class?

Chapter 14: What About These Darn Standardized Tests? #13

Understanding Key Concepts: pgs.105-112

Effective teachers do not allow hot-button issues to shift their focus from what really matters.

Effective teachers do not allow standardized tests to take over the entire class…

Effective teachers never allow their personal views regarding standardized testing to affect discussions they might have with their students, parents, or even peers.

Chapter 14: What About These Darn Standardized Tests?

Understanding Key Concepts (con’t): Effective teachers recognize that state

standards force them to shift the focus from the textbook to the actual curriculum and student learning.

Great teachers do not merely hold up standards and watch students make their way toward them; instead, great teachers remain at their students’ sides, helping them to develop the skills they need to meet the standards.

Chapter 15: Make It Cool to Care #14

Understanding Key Concepts: pgs. 113-122

All effective teachers have a core set of beliefs to which they adhere as educators.

The key is to develop and establish a school wide environment that supports everyone’s efforts to do what is right.

The real challenge—and the real accomplishment– is to get all the students to care about what happens in the classroom….

Chapter 15: Make It Cool to CareUnderstanding Key Concepts (Con’t): In great schools, the teachers tell stories about

what other teachers have accomplished with students.

Great teachers do what is right, no matter what else is going on.

Great educators understand that behaviors and beliefs are tied to emotion….

Students care about great teachers because they know that great teachers care about them.

Chapter 16: Clarifying Your CoreUnderstanding Key Concepts:

pgs.125-126 Being a teacher is an amazing profession. It is challenging, dynamic, energizing, and

draining-but most of all, it is rewarding. We know our students talk about us; so

do our colleagues; and so do people in our community. We can decide what we want those conversations to be like.

Read pgs. 127-128

TIME LIMIT to read: 2 minutes

THINK-PAIR-SHARE:

Of the “Fourteen Things That Matter Most” listed, which do you feel is the foremost essential practice?

Why?

THANKS FOR STRIVING TO BE A GREAT TEACHER

Plus Delta exit slip Have a great Christmas holiday and a Happy New

Year! Next PLC book: “Classroom Assessment & Grading

That Works” by Marzano