So at the high school our goal is to have everyone SIOP trained this year, which is happening through building in-service time. To be quite honest, I am feeling overwhemed with the MANY strategies, expectations, and truly understanding all of it. I do however, understand that it is an important model to desgin instruction around. My goal for quarter 1 was to have the objectives posted in my room, which is happening on a daily basis. Since I am new to this, and all of my SIOP objectives are new, I am finding it very time consuming. I have created a document that I used (and shared with my colleagues), that I can write them objectives down on a daily basis, and not reinventing the wheel each semsester. My goal for next semester is reinforce them by actually disucssing them at the beginning and end of every hour. So, right now, I feel like they are just there, but not for any reason. I felt that this was my solution to really understanding if my objectives are good, and easing to the new system.
Question: If you are SIOP trained, how do you use the model in your classroom. Any suggestions for an art teacher who feels overwhelmed?
Rachel, I would start with one or two courses at a time. And saving the objectives for next semester should really help you out in the future. It definitely takes a few times through to really start to make the ojectives meaningful for you and (consequently) for students. I think the time put in up front pays off in the long haul. You also may not have new objectives each day, especially if you are continuing a project.
ReplyDeleteObviously we teach different content, but I have found that using the objectives deliberately up front each day helps my students understand exactly what they should be able to know/do by the end of the class period. When they ask (why do they keep asking this question?!) whether there will be a 'review sheet' for a quiz or test, I refer them to the objectives which I post on my website with each day's homework. I am also doing a better job of integrating objectives into daily activities and using them in formative ways throughout a class period.
I use PPT everyday, so Annie & I keep our objectives in a PPT that we can resuse and update each semester. Then we can link to other PPTs, videos, and activities.
When I took SIOP last year they suggested just doing one class at a time too. I felt guilty just doing it for one class/grade level so I tried to do it for each class.... it lasted about a month! My goal was to start one class this year and then work my way up. I haven't gotten that far yet- with new curriculum and 4 more classes, and everything else....
ReplyDeleteInstead I have made sure to post the content objective for each project and the rubric. That way I can refer kids back to it- it is GREAT! Then they can see on by themselves whether or not they have completed the project and get an idea of what their grade will be.
For some projects I have even done a checklist that they can check to make sure they have gotten everything.
When I get back from Maternity leave- I plan to start adding the Language Objectives to the Content ones. :)