mindful teaching an approach to classroom instruction which complements any service delivery model...
TRANSCRIPT
Mindful TeachingAn approach to classroom instruction which complements any service delivery model for working with diverse learners
The mindful teacher thinks about teaching and plans how to structure lessons and activities to support diverse learners.
Solomon Schechter Day School Association Biennial Conference – December 10, 2006
Rosalind Reiss, Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union, New Jersey
Assumptions
Diverse learners have greater success in classrooms with thoughtful teachers.
Thoughtful teachers learn from their experience. – They deepen their knowledge and attain better practices
through mindful teaching. – They consolidate and apply their knowledge as they progress
from being novice teachers to becoming experts in their craft.
In-service instruction and faculty/administrative support can facilitate the development of mindful teaching in the classroom.
Stages of Growth – Novice (Level 1) to Experts (Level 6)
I. Classroom teachers are thoughtful about their teaching
II. Classroom teachers optimize learning by practicing whole class support strategies.
III. Classroom teachers analyze lessons, materials, activities and assessments for underlying component demands and provide whole class and individual supports accordingly.
IV. Classroom teachers plan for and use accommodations, modifications and interventions for individuals and groups of students.
V. Classroom teachers deepen understanding of individual students and develop action plans and/or provide supports accordingly.
VI. Classroom teachers continually reflect on their teaching, thus deepening their understanding and refining their skills.
Level I: Classroom teaches are thoughtful about their teaching
Before teaching, I think about what I am about to teach – Which academic competencies are needed to learn this new
content? Do my students have the prerequisite academic competencies?
– Which study/organization skills are needed by my students in order to do my assignments/my assessments? Have I taught these competencies?
– How might I structure instruction to support learning for students who may be missing one or more of the academic or study/organization skills?
After teaching I reflect
What went well? What should I change next time I teach this
lesson? Do I need to make any changes in tomorrow’s
lesson or in any upcoming lessons?
Level II: Classroom teachers practice whole classwhole class support strategies
Whole classWhole class support strategies are useful for all students and are especially helpful for students with special needs– Mindful teachers structure instruction, materials and
space– Mindful teachers pace lessons– Mindful teachers use opportunities for various forms
of instruction
Assignment – 4th Grade
My spelling words in print_____ _____ _____ _____ _____Alphabetize list in cursive_____ _____ _____ _____ _____Write a short story using your words. Include at least two kinds
of sentences (statement, question, exclamation, compound)Underline your spelling words (with a ruler)______________________________________
____________________________________|____________________________________
Work with your editing partner. Use a red pencil
Level III: Analyze underpinning components of instruction and plan accordingly
Analyze lessons, assignments and assessments for underpinning components, the building blocks for– Content knowledge– Processing, thinking and production skills
Build support for whole class, groupings and individual students
Identify components of lesson
My spelling words in print_____ _____ _____ _____ _____Alphabetize list in cursive_____ _____ _____ _____ _____Write a short story using your words. Include at least two kinds
of sentences (statement, question, exclamation, compound)Underline your spelling words (with a ruler)______________________________________
____________________________________|____________________________________
Work with your editing partner. Use a red pencil
Level IV: Use of accommodations, modifications and interventions for individuals and groups of students
Accommodations ‘level the playing field’– Content of instruction is not changed
Modifications– Content is differentiated for various skill levels and
types of learners
Interventions– Content is taught: instruct missing content
knowledge and skills
Accommodations, modifications and interventions
My spelling words in print_____ _____ _____ _____ _____Alphabetize list in cursive_____ _____ _____ _____ _____Write a short story using your words. Include at least two kinds
of sentences (statement, question, exclamation, compound)Underline your spelling words (with a ruler)______________________________________
____________________________________|____________________________________
Work with your editing partner. Use a red pencil
Level V: Deepen understanding of individual students – provide needed supports
Collect information
Formulate hypotheses
Design tentative action plans/support programs
Reflect and refine
Level VI Classroom teachers continually reflect on their teaching, thus deepening and refining their skills.
Mindful Teaching: from novice to expert Mindful teachers use similar thinking processes as they move
from Levels I to VI
Mindful teachers integrate old with new learning
Mindful teachers recognize patterns and themes
Mindful teachers automatically apply what they already know thus reserving mental energy to consider more complex analyses
How can schools develop and support mindful teachers?
Resources within our schools: Encourage teachers to take risks (work outside of their
comfort zone) while learning from and supporting each other Encourage teachers and staff to deepen their understanding
of their own learning and work styles Encourage teachers to participate in mind-altering
workshopsResources outside of school All Kinds of Minds – The Schools Attuned Program
www.allkindsofminds.org Rosalind Reiss [email protected] 908-709-0054