HELP...I have a second interview to teach 6th grade...

Question

The principal wants me to give him several ways to improve reading skill levels. Also, how can he walk into my classroom and tell within 3 minutes that I am teaching a "Standards Based" lesson? Serious answers would be incredibly helpful. I've been job seeking for years now. Thank you!!

Answer 1

Okay, alot of people hit the nail on the head. But, i know exactly what the 3 minute thing is. It is called "The 3 minute walkthrough" and it is a huge movement in education today. Here are some good responses.

1. (THE MOST IMPORTANT) My topic, objective, standard, and expected outcome will be on the board.

2. Students will be focused on me if I am teaching or on a task I have assigned.

3. Evidence will be on my walls of topics/skills we have covered or are currently working on

As for the improving reading levels. This is harder to give you a certain answer. But, here are some key areas.

1. I will model fluent reading (accuracy, pacing, and expression)

2. I will model and have students practice specific skills to increase reading ability

3. I will assess weaknesses in individual students and whole class areas of concern and focus lessons on those areas of weakness

4. I will expect and support frequent reading for students in class and at home with a mixture of texts that include reading for fun, reading for a specific purpose, reading to learn a skill or subject.

5. (BIG ONE) I will collaborate with other teachers, especially in my grade level, to create focused lessons on assessed areas of need and next steps to insure success for all students.

This is by no means the entire list. But, as a principal I would like to hear as many of these as possible.

Answer 2

I would recommend getting on the school districts website and researching any district wide programs they are using.  My district has a writing program and a process to improve achievement.  Do a little research and then quote those in your answers.  Showing that you have researched what will be required of you will show that you care about wanting this position and will put in the extra effort when hired.

As far as the 3 minute question goes.  In our district the state standard for that lesson must be posted on the board.  At the start of class it is discussed and all students should know what they are to be learning during that class period.  Lessons should be planned with the state standard referenced in your planning book.

Good luck with the interview!

Answer 3

To be able to tell if you're teaching a standards based lesson means that your are stating the objective of the lesson before you teach it, while you're teaching and then after wards. Your objective should be directly related to your state's teaching standards. If it isn't, then your lesson is not standards based.

Example:

Before lesson:

"Boys and girls, today we're going to be studying adverbs. We're going to see if we can find at least five adverbs in the story we're about to read. An adverb is...."

During lesson:" Remember that we're trying to find adverbs in the story. How many have we found so far?"

After lesson: Sum it all up.

GOOD LUCK! :-)

Answer 4

My son just finished 6th grade and these are some things they did to improve reading scores and levels (and they really did work)

ways to improve reading skill levels:

Start a book club...

Children will earn points for reading books and will in turn earn rewards

Timed Tests for reading comprehension ...

Learn to read, Like to read, Love to read (a series of reading levels that starts at the beginning of the school year with children learning a more intense vocabulary followed by books that the entire class reads together finished with students earning rewards for reading)...

Children (even at this age level) are highly motivated by reward and praise.  The simplest things can motivate a child.... like extra computer time, getting to eat lunch outside with a friend, getting to choose the next group book, etc...  (one that my sons school did was if the entire 6th grade earned enough points... I can't remember how many it was... then the principal had to kiss a pig; they did it!!!)

He should be able to walk into your classroom and know that you are teaching a standards based lesson from the direction you are giving your class, your overall lesson plan, and the materials he sees the children using and are available to them....

Answer 5

When i was in 6th grade my teacher had vocab of the day (or something) where it would have hard vocab from books. And we would write it down and have quizzes on them. So we would know the vocab. Then we would read the book. Also when we would read we would read a couple of chapters and she would have packets on the vocab and question about why the characters were doing certain things.

The principal would know if you were teaching the standard lessons if what you wrote in you lesson plan was what you were teaching. And if the children looked like they understood an didn't look like they were learning about 8th grade lessons.  

Answer 6

I'll answer your 3 minute question first.  The first indicator that you are teaching standards is your lesson plan book.  It should clearly show the specific standards you are working on.  It is also beneficial to have kid friendly standards written on the board or posted in the room.  Students should know what they are to be learning, it's not a secret.

Improving reading skills is a complex issue.  A basic answer is to be  sure that students spend enough time reading, working on comprehension skills that go beyond recall, and use a variety of genres with the students.  Read aloud to model comprehension strategies is also important.  

Answer 7

To improve reading skill levels:

preteach the vocabulary of a text BEFORE students read

use pictures, objects and discussions of the text's topic BEFORE they read to build their background knowledge and help make connections to the story

teach students the reading strategies that successful readers know:  predicting, rereading, cloze vocabulary, marking the text, how to use the story's pictures, captions and headings to help them understand the story/text.

The principal can tell because both you and the students both refer to the lessons objectives during the lesson.  For example, if you're instructing the class on the skill of identifying the main idea, in the first 3 min.  he will hear you tell the class that's what they're learning today,  an explanation of what that is, see you provide examples and practice with the class, then see them practicing.

This is just a surface explanation of a very detailed process.  I suggest you do additional research online or talk to another 6th grade teacher or reading coach for more details.

Answer 8

First you can only improve reading skills when you have a system for ongoing assessement or you hav a system for knowing where all of your kids are all the time. Who is not achieving? Why are they not? What are you going to do about it?  The second part. An adminstrator should be able to walk thru your room and tell that you are teaching a standards based lesson by: your lesson plans being completed, your objective for the lesson should be on the board or posted somewhere in the room, the students should be able to communicate what they are learning, and students should be authentically engaged in real work.