Out of Her Mind -- Musings on Education and Life

  When students are able to clearly articulate what they are learning and what they are expected to do, they will be more successful.  I have been teaching for 22 years, and I have found that it is helpful to begin each new unit of learning by emphasizing a focus standard.  We know that the ELA standards are artfully intertwined, but picking a standard or two to really emphasize helps me to be intentional about instruction and for students to know the purpose of their learning. I am currently teaching English II in North Carolina, and I am helping students prepare for the North Carolina Final Exam.  I have been developing slideshows, guided notes, and graphic organizers to help students understand the academic vocabulary of the tested standards as well as to help them analyze informational and literary texts in the 9-10 grade band. These resources are available individually or bundled on Teachers Pay Teachers .   Add a free copy of   RL.9.10.1 Lit...

Students in my SIOP English II class overcoming their shyness and presenting in front of the class How SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) Meets the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards What Is SIOP? SIOP is a research-based instructional model originally designed for English Language Learners (ELLs), though as is true with most differentiation, this model is a good instructional model for any student. North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards and How SIOP Aligns Standard I:     Leadership in the Classroom   Promotes Collaboration. Encourages students to take responsibility for their own learning. Advocates for students. Standard II:  Respectful Environment for Diverse Students Has high expectations for all students. Collaborates with specialists to meet the special needs of all students. Creates a flexible, supportive learning environment. Capitalizes on diversity. Adapts teaching using researc...