Happy April Fools Day! Today is day one of three for ELA testing in New York. Wahoo! Ready or not...here we go! This is always a stressful time of year for me and teaching all the ELA this year has made given me more pressure. The time constraints on the test worry me the most because my students tend to work slow. On day three (Thursday), they will have three [rigorous] passages to read, five short response questions, and an extended response question to answer in 70 minutes.
I know my students will put forth their best effort. That's all I can ask! :) Then, we have one more week to teach next week and will be on spring break for a week!
The countdown begins...
It's Time for Tried It Tuesday!
I know my students will put forth their best effort. That's all I can ask! :) Then, we have one more week to teach next week and will be on spring break for a week!
The countdown begins...
It's Time for Tried It Tuesday!
What have you tried at school or home?
APPR Binder
My APPR (Annual Professional Performance Review) binder was due yesterday with artifacts aligned to Domains 1 and 4 of the Danielson Teacher Rubric.
It is great fun getting this "portfolio" ready every year (insert sarcasm!). I feel like I'm back in college and spent the majority of Sunday and Monday (early) morning getting everything ready since I am the queen of procrastination. It is not a [complete] waste of time because it is somewhat satisfying thinking about the work I do that I'm passionate about but there are so many other things I could have been doing during that time to help my students. Sigh...
About a year and a half ago I made binder dividers for my APPR binder aligned to the Danielson rubric and put them on TpT for sale. This product slowly evolved into more than just binder dividers as teachers repeatedly asked me for more examples of what I used as my evidence. Now, it includes 132 pages of materials to organize the binder with many examples of "artifacts" that are editable for teachers to adapt for their own use.
Here are some pictures of my binder for this year that I turned in yesterday:
My least favorite task was typing my "Educational Article Reflection and Curriculum Implementation" that aligns to 4e: Growing and Developing Professionally. Our district gives us three choices of "recommended artifacts" for each domain's element and you have to use one of the three or it doesn't count. I have one article reflection from last year in my Danielson product. The reflection from last year and the new reflection for this year is available as a Fourth Grade Flipper Facebook Fan Freebie! It is fully editable for your use too! The iPad article I used this year has a link to the full online article in the PowerPoint file.
Would you like to a chance to win my Danielson APPR product? Pin the image below, leave the URL in the comments and I will chose a winner (or two!) tonight. :)
Have a great week everyone!
Beginning testing on April Fool's Day? Funny.... :) Best of luck to you and your kiddos this week. I know you will be glad to have it over with so you can return to actual teaching and learning. Thanks for all the pics of your binder. How can you be the queen of procrastination when I already hold that title?
ReplyDeleteJennifer
Mrs. Laffin's Laughings
We test next week, so these are the final hours of preparation here in Arkansas! We use the Danielson model for teacher evaluation. Luckily, I don't have to put together a physical portfolio, just gather my evidence and discuss it with my principal. Your binder looks like a great way to keep everything orgnaized!
ReplyDeleteRissa
Keep Calm and Hoot On
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/96686723224894590/
ReplyDeleteGood Luck Holly on your binder and state testing. I'm in the same boat with testing and my artifacts are due next Friday and I still need to have one more informal observation. Fun times!
msob123@gmail.com
Glad to hear Texas is not the only foolish state to test on April 1st!!! Seriously?
ReplyDeleteYour binder looks great and like a LOT of work. Guess I won't be complaining about our system.
Elizabeth
Hodges Herald
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/319966748498845677/
ReplyDeleteI NEED this to help me keep everything organized!! Thanks for the opportunity.
You had to turn your binder in this week and start state testing? NO WAY! Your Danielson APPR is awesomeness! XO
ReplyDeleteAlison
Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'
Good luck with your testing. We have another three weeks to go, but our Spring Break has already passed. Your binder looks awesome! We have to track our evidence, but nothing like this. Congratulations on getting that finished!
ReplyDeleteMary
Fit to be Fourth
We just finished testing...yay! Good luck and I'm sure your students will do great! Your binder looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteJen
http://endeavorsineducation.blogspot.com/
Your binder looks amazing - so much work! I am very impressed and also thankful that we do not have to produce such a detailed thing. Good Luck with your state testing! We begin April 14th and go through May 2!!
ReplyDeleteWow that looks fantastic. That looks like it would keep me organized and let my principal know what I am doing.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pinterest.com/pin/182536591121255857/
Barbara
Fourth and Goal in Fourth Grade
Holly, you know I'm the PRO in procrastinator! You should be very proud of your binder-it looks amazing! And, I think it's a mean joke to have testing on April Fool's Day!
ReplyDeleteHere's my pin even though I already have it! :)
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/147070744055551851/
Joanne
Head Over Heels For Teaching
http://fourthgradeflipper.blogspot.com/2014/04/tried-it-tuesday-appr-fan-freebie-win-it.html
ReplyDeleteOur ELA testing started today as well. Our artifacts are due next Friday, before we leave for Spring Break!! Your product is amazing!
~Melissa