Sentence Frames and Discourse

(Please continue to video after the break... ie. click on "Read More")

In many of my conversations with teachers both individually and in CWGs, the language issue is emerging over and over again. From 1st grade through 8th grade - the need for structure and explicit instruction in student discourse is overwhelmingly clear.

Years ago, many of us had the pleasure of attending a workshop at the Middle School by Jill Eggleton. For me, it was a transcendental experience and my instruction was forever changed. She convinced me of the importance of oral language in developing WRITERS, and she inspired me to use it daily - in every content area.

From "Linking the Language Strands"

Purposeful Listening and Speaking

Oral language is an integral part of the learning program across the curriculum. Students need to have purposeful interaction in the oral language function. It is important to allocate times that provide students with experiences in the different types of oral language.

It can be: transactional language that incorporates specific functional discussions, such as describing how to play a game, give directions or poetic language, such as describing a favorite character...

Or.... it can be describing your solution to a math problem!

After the break here, you can see first graders engaged in purposeful discussion. Also notice the sentence frames behind them. Yay sentence frames!!!

Eyrie Cam!

The Raptor Resource Project brings you the Decorah Eagles from atop their tree at the fish hatchery in Decorah, Iowa.



Awesome video stream of an eagle nest and some new hatchlings. Can you hear her babies tweet-tweeting?

Excitement is Building for Investigations in the Classroom Training!

When I cracked open my oh-so-official "Host-Site Coordinators' Manual" for our Investigations in the Classroom Workshop, I became giddy! Check this out:

You will receive shipments, via FedEx, that include, depending on the size of the workshop, three to eight trunks and 15 to 40 boxes. Each trunk weighs approximately 150 lbs. and contains the materials that the leaders will use in their sessions.

150 lbs.??? Let me do some math... ok..... 8 x (100 + 50)... so thats 800 plus half of 800... thats 1,200 lbs!!! 1200 lbs. of potential "stuff!" Of course, since TERC is located in Massachusetts and all - I'm hoping that at least one of those 8 trunks will be filled with lobster.

We already have 60 folks signed up, so it should be a FANTASTIC week! Woo!

Here's the Workshop Flyer. We still have plenty of room for more educators interested in delivering top-notch mathematics instruction!