I must make a disclaimer to start off this blog!!

I have received so many valuable gold nuggets (resources) to take back to the classroom that I will be incorporating into my curriculum!  However, I do recognize that this blog isn’t asking for a review of what I found most useful.  That wouldn’t be practical in terms of space and time available.  Suffice it to say, I haven’t found any of my externship experiences to be without applicable merit.  That being said, I have to add that my first response was to flash through all of the glorious applications shared at NCCAT!  But I realized that those were pieces of information that had been shared with everyone.  So I spent more time panning until I could make my choice.

I believe the nugget that weighs in as most transformative to my professional practice is the lesson plan evaluation rubric that the DPI ELA team shared with my Kenan cohort and presented to teachers in their Summer Seminars this summer.  They have panned through the CCSS nuggets nationwide and appreciate the value of the tools published by the tri-state team of Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island through Achieve.  I will attach the link at the bottom of this document for anyone that wishes to review it.  What makes this so valuable to me is that it forms a unique reflection format that I can use to strengthen my lesson planning process and verify its connection to CCSS.

While this rubric relates specifically to the ELA standards, it can serve as a model for all practitioners.  The four dimensions that form the structure are universal: depth of alignment, key shifts, instructional supports, and assessments.  At first, the process of lesson review is a slow process, although not laborious.  But as familiarity increases, the process should become internalized.  Ultimately, that internalization should result in consistently strong lessons.

If you would like to view these documents for yourself, go to:

http://et.nwresd.org/files/EQuIP-ELA%20rubric-02-25-13%20to%20share.pdf

Pictures used:  Blue river panner from: addinswaow.com 7/9/2013 & squirrels: simplesharebuttons.com 7/9/2013