J Shannon Literacy

April 5, 2017

Differentiation/Learning Stations

Student Learning Stations

If you are not using learning stations in your classroom, you are really missing out! Whenever I used stations, I was always beyond pleased with the outcome. Student engagement was...

April 4, 2017

Differentiation/Gradual Release Model/Graphic Organizers/Learning Stations/Learning Targets/Lesson Planning

Secondary ELA: Analyzing Characters with Graphic Organizers

Teaching students to analyze anything can be a daunting task. So when students have to make sense of all of the characters in a short story or novel, and THEN...

April 3, 2017

Gradual Release Model

Gradual Release of Responsibility Model

The Gradual Release of Responsibility Model systematically transitions the responsibility of learning from the teacher to the student through four different phases. At each phase, the teacher and student share...

March 30, 2017

Common Core/Learning Targets

Lesson Planning: Turning Standards into Learning Targets

Common Core Standards are rigorously robust. Each standard is so layered, that there are many things a student needs to master in order to be proficient with the standard. As...

March 28, 2017

Gradual Release Model/Reading Comprehension

Secondary Reading Comprehension – Gradual Release

Understanding that students may not have the skills they are “supposed” to have to navigate grade-level text is difficult on both students and teachers. For this reason, I always spent...

March 24, 2017

Formative Assessments

Interactive, Paperless, Formative Assessments

In a never-ending testing environment, formative assessments can be overwhelming. District-mandated assessments PLUS classroom assessments are a recipe for student shutdowns. But don’t fear, try any of these methods to...

March 22, 2017

Master Classroom

What is a Master Classroom?

As a secondary curriculum coach, I have been in dozens of classrooms and done hundreds of observations. There is no one way to be a great teacher. That said, a master classroom...

March 20, 2017

Uncategorized

Welcome to The Master Classroom!

Today’s teachers are facing an uphill battle. With students coming in less and less prepared, climbing expectations of teachers have reached, what can feel like, an impossible level. Limited resources...