Padlet.com - Anonymous Input, Teachable Moments

Submitted by Mrs. Green:

PADLET.com

Have you ever used padlet.com? It is an awesome way to get anonymous feedback. It's a wall where anyone with the link can post to it. In my class, we are using it to share sentences we write with our spelling words.  Each week they write a sentence that uses a certain pattern and a context clue with an ACT word.  Then, I assign students to share at least one sentence. I pull Padlet.com up on the Promethean board and we go over the sentences. In the past, I used to exhaust class time having the students come and write on the board, so this is a major time saver! I copy the link to the classroom Twitter page, and they are able to use their phone and go to Twitter and access the Padlet wall.  They loved being able to use twitter to get to the link and do that right from their phones. The best part is that I have a "collection" of these walls because they are permanent, so I can pull them up weeks later if I need to, and I can also edit and check to make sure everything is "school appropriate" before I project it for everyone to see!

Conversation Cards

Submitted by Mrs. Green:

 

I have heard many teachers say they just don't have time to have individual conferences.  One day, this idea came straight out of nowhere, and I went with it! 

 

Conversation Cards!!

Individual Conversations with Students:  yes, it takes up class time, but here is an IDEA!  Create "CONVERSATION CARDS" with your students.  Here's what I did:  First, I gave the class an assignment (they all worked on a pretty lengthy pre-test); during this time, I called them up one at a time and discussed their testing data with them.  I told them their EXPLORE score, their 9th grade Performance Series Test Score, their 9th grade EOC, and their current 10th grade Performance series score.  They even wrote it down.  Then, we talked about "average" and what that means and where each needs to be.  Finally, as a class, they filled out an index card by labeling their name and a few pieces of information.  Attached is a pictured (anonymous) of what one looks like.  They had to say on what level they are currently reading and list all of their relevant data.  Then, they had to state a goal.  The idea is that I write the student back.  The next time students will write on this, they will tell me what kind of obstacles they face that keep them from improving, as well as one strategy from class that they feel can help them.  Of course, the card is always "open" for them to write anything else they need me to know.  I plan on doing this every 2-3 weeks.  It takes me about an hour to respond to each class.  It has been SOOOO worth it! Check out this sample!