Teaching in the Block

Pull your own happiness wagon ~Jacob Glancy

Block 1: Intro to the Block
1. Quick write: One 90-minute engaging event from the past week? Why?
I watched
Harry Potter

, a movie I have seen at least fifty times without exaggeration. I

like the story and movie, because I keep finding new ways to understand the text. Also,
I think that JK Rowling is a really good person who embedded morals to which I
subscribe. Also, I was exhausted and really enjoyed turning my brain off for a
significant chunk of time.
A. Commonalities: choice, desire, multiple activities within one activity, task-oriented,
challenging, movement, objective in mind
2. Teachers lead it; the students do it.
Coaching rather than sustained direct-instruction
3. Four Corners Activity
4. Breakout into content areas
A. Chunking a Standard (component skills + content knowledge)
i. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
1. Regular: movie clip, definitions
2. Advanced: more detail, teach others, enrichment
ii. Citations in MLA format (RL.11-12.1)

5. Post-Its
i. Blooms Taxonomy:

Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation

ii. Costas Levels of Questioning:

Level 1: complete, count, match, name, define, observe, recite, describe, list, identify, recall
Level 2: analyze, categorize, explain, classify, compare, contrast, infer, organize, sequence
Level 3: imagine, plan, evaluate, judge, predict, extrapolate, invent, speculate, generalize

iii. Why does the order of each matter?

Move up the levels to build knowledge and skills

6. Sequencing is placing chunks of knowledge and skills in a logical order to ensure

progressive and accessible learning
7. Closure: PollEverywhere.com
Block 2: Structures and Considerations for the Block
1. High schoolers can focus for 15-20 minutes. Thus, 5-6 activities are needed for a
90-minute block.
2. The Chart: Recorder, Reporter, and Facilitator Roles (some pre-chosen for
strengths and weaknesses of the individual)
Learning Modalities
Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Tactile
Stations
Hand raising
Jigsaw
Icebreakers
Snowballs

Four Corners
Grouping
Tenting
Brain Break
Material gathering

21st
Century Skills
Content Knowledge
Communication
Adaptability
Digital Citizenship
Healthy Behaviors
Problem Solving
Paperlessness
technology

Typing
Computer literacy
Collaboration
Financial skills
Creativity
Soft Skills
Appropriate use of

Technology
Kahoot
Socratic Seminar
Elmo
Flubaroo
Prezi
Clickers
Pen & Paper
Projector
Chromebooks
iPads
Videos
Smartboards
Turnitin.com
Google Classroom
Spreadsheets
Websites
QR Code Google Form
Whiteboards & Dry Erase Markers
Differentiation
Think Tac Toes
Graphic Organizers
Project Choices
Genre Reading
Lit Circles
Roles in groups
Writing Circles
Essay Topic Choices
Students as Teachers Lexile alignment
Oral vs. Written Assessment
Reading Quizzes (Qs or drawings)
Docent.edu ($40/year)

See: http://www.p21.org/about-us/p21-framework
High-Yield Instructional Strategies

Transitions

Prior Texts
Venn Diagrams
Research
Analysis
T-Charts
Real Life Application
Fig Language
Personal Connection
Historical Lens
Identification
Group Work
Debate (ex. Book vs. Movie)
Connotation
Competitions
Compare & Contrast Essays
Activating Prior Knowledge
Entry slips
Questioning
Reflection
KWL
Exit Tickets
Return Work
Allusions
Students as Teachers
Quick write
Graphic Cartoon
Survey
Interactive Notebook
Journals
Practice Problems
Hypothesizing based on prior learning
Project Management: Agenda & Timeline

A change from one task to the next

Incorporates movement
Both physical and mental
Clearly delineated
Connects one activity to the next
Minimizes loss of instructional time
Maintains focus
(Cue Set should be the first transition)
Reflection & Closure
Thumbs Up/Down
No-opt out
Q & A
Summary
(KW)L
Reflective Journal
Post-its
Parking Lot Check-in
Exit Ticket (to be returned the following day)
Readdress an intro problem/question
Accomplishment Check-in/Goal Setting
Whip-around Quiz with a partner

3. QR Code posted on the door as students walk into the classroom (and in multiple
places in the classroom.
4. Data from Formative assessment
A. Same level will not work
i. Contracted Honors=supplementary materials, more, classroom leaders
ii. Regular
iii. Lower Level
B. Strong/Developing learners***
i. reteaching
ii. enrichment
5. Bell-to-bell teaching without dead time breaks. Transitions serve as breaks.
Two-minute brain breaks on rare occasion.
6. Common concern is missing class (both the student and the teacher)
Activating prior knowledge is a key element to combat this stressor.
7. We cannot incorporate all of these blocks into every class period.
Block 3: Tools and Strategies for Teaching in the Block
1. Models for Teaching on the Block
A.
B.
C.
D.

Intro Investigation/Application Reflection

Explanation Application Synthesis
Intro Whole Class Small Group Individual Closure
Intro Whole Class Small Group Individual Remediation/Enrichment Closure

2. If you only have three activities, you DO NOT have enough activities
3. Infomercial activity to show comprehension and application of knowledge.
4. 113 instructional strategies list
A. Identify three new instructional strategies.
i. Choral Response: Students respond to a prompt in unison
ii. Misinformation Check: Students are presented with false
information by teacher and must identify and correct the error.
iii. Realia: Use of artifacts to facilitate learning
5. Students with attendance issues? (Two days can mean a week of instruction.) Calling
home may be a necessity. Interventions may need to be developed by the team/school.

Block 4: Creating the Block

1. Create a block using the chunked standard from Block 1.

Professional Toolbox:

1. Table Tents with questions inside (as get-to-know-you or review)

2. Quick writes (4 minutes)
3. 4 Corners (Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree to questions)
4. Small Group Break-Outs
5. Post-its to check for knowledge
6. PollEverywhere.com (Beware immature students)
7. Charting in Groups
8. Moving around the room like a ____
9. Walking until the music stops
10. QR Code Reader Google Form
11. Peer Tutoring
12. Cooperative Learning
13. Reflecting
14. Team Roles
15. Classifying
16. Graphic Organizers
17. Fist to Five comfort level
18. Infomercial/Commercial