Dynamic Teaching #cyberPD

Thanks to Cathy Mere and Michelle Nero  for hosting our conversations as we learn from Vicki Vinton‘s latest book Dynamic Teaching for Deeper Reading. 

I have to admit I was slow to jump into the book.  I wanted to take Vicki's advice and jump right into Section Two of the book - What things look like in action.  I had to start and restart several times; however, each time I found another nugget that encouraged me and especially made me think deeper.

Encouragement Nuggets:

• ..."often results in teachers crossing the boundaries between scaffolding and rescuing..." p. xviii
• "When we focus on pieces or scaffolds too much, we rob students of fully experiencing that power and gift." p. 10
• "making students stay within the four corners of a text gives them a sterile and narrow view of reading" p. 17
• "when the goal of teaching is for students to engage in more complex thinking, planning is focused on readers and they need to engage in that thinking." p. 23
• "repurpose the components to meet those more complex means." p. 24

Thinking Deeper Nuggets:

• I am thinking deeper about how I scaffold my lessons. My desire is for all 28 students to have an entry point. Last year's learners' skills were tremendously varied.  When I presented a new concept, I thought about my learners and I knew if I had an opening at a lower level for a few students most other students were "bored" and if I entered at a "higher" level I automatically lost some of my learners.  I still don't have the answer and would appreciate any comments to help me with my thinking.
• Repurpose the components of workshop was powerful for me.  I am always thinking about time and this summer I've already had conversations about how to use my read aloud and reading logs differently.  Thanks to Mary Lee who helped me with a little dock therapy. My biggest shift for next year is that I am not going to think in 1/3 (reading, writing, word study) I am going to think a whole.  I am shifting to from 3 spirals to one spiral (Language Arts).  In the real world I don't compartmentalize the three so I am not going to ask my students to do that either. 

I appreciate the conversations and the twitter feed that supports #cyberPD. It's satisfying to know that when I place my thinking on my blog that where will be an active conversation.  I am excited to leave comments for other bloggers and continue to learn side by side with you. 

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