Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment at RNESU

The complex syntax of written language is often a stumbling block. Reprinted, with permission, from Natalie Wexler’s blog -  Minding the Gap!   When students can’t understand what they’re reading, it may be because they’re unfamiliar with the complex syntax of written sentences. Teaching them how to  write  complex sentences about what they’re learning can help. As reading researcher Timothy Shanahan  has pointed out , there’s lots of research on how students learn to decipher individual written words, and lots on how they comprehend whole texts—but comparatively little on “the seemingly unloved sentence.” And yet, difficulty understanding the sentence can be a major obstacle to comprehension. More recently, Shanahan  has zeroed in  on what research there is. It may be, as Shanahan says, that there’s been an explosion of research on sentences in the last couple of years, but some of the studies he cites go back to the 1980s. While the data isn’t defin...

The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework asks that we design learning experiences with intention toward removing barriers and increasing entry points for all learners. Google Classroom, when used with this framework in mind, moves beyond a simple digital workflow exchange. It allows for multiple means of representation, engagement, and action/expression to increase access for all. How can Google Classroom help you implement UDL? Use Google Classroom to deliver resources and materials in multiple formats. Some learners do well learning through reading the texts you select, while others take in information better through audiobooks/podcasts, or videos and infographics. A combination of modalities can work together to reinforce a concept. The icon menu under the instruction box in a Google Classroom assignment allows you to attach resources easily. Multiple attachments can be added to any assignment. Note the multiple modes of expressing content knowledge in this assignment, one ...

Edpuzzle is one of the best educational tools out there. It is a video hosting service that allows you to embed questions directly into videos from: YouTube; Khan Academy; National Geographic; Edpuzzle itself; or, that you create. These videos can be set so that students cannot skip ahead, and need to watch the whole video. One of the coolest features of Edpuzzle is that all the assignments and grades are automatically synced to Google Classroom. Edpuzzle is a great way to increase student engagement by transforming videos into an active multimodal learning experience. It ensures student accountability and participation. It is a great, and easy to use tool for formative assessments in the classroom. Students are given equal access to quality content through a district-wide video library lesson. Edpuzzle is a great way to provide differentiated instruction, remediation and enrichment. One great part of Edpuzzle is that it is free for teachers and students! The free version allows teache...

 Like most of us, MJ Hall at OV values the power of feedback; yet, like many of us struggles with the amount of time it takes to do so well.   Check out how she uses Google Classroom's Comment Bank to save time.