Most recent public comments by Kathleen Enright https://nowcomment.com/users/136786 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351899?scroll_to=3095709 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351899?scroll_to=3095709 Tue, 01 Aug 2023 21:23:31 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351860?scroll_to=3095708 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351860?scroll_to=3095708 Tue, 17 Oct 2023 21:21:26 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351900?scroll_to=3095700 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351900?scroll_to=3095700 In my teaching practice, I have been engaging with my students in creating digital stories through visual compositions, using dialogue to direct the flow of the story. They have been working together to negotiate the details of the story and then making decisions collaboratively. I'm also including moments of individual reflection and accountability for each student in their work. Quote from text: “They have been working together to negotiate the details of the story and then making decisions collaboratively.” This shows evidence of Social Making discourse practice in your teaching. Offering your students opportunities to work together to negotiate and collaborate creatively on their creations communicates that they are valued for their input and encourages them to think in a collective way. To further develop this practice, you could incorporate more formative conversations and dialogues into the creative process, for example, by asking students to share their ideas before the finalization of a project and then providing constructive feedback on their work. Involving your students in Social Making through dialogues through creating texts online might look like providing open-ended prompts or questions that students use to contribute to the creative process, such as “How do you think this part of the story should develop?” or “What thoughts come to mind when looking at this image?” Students could then share their thoughts on a discussion board or use video conferencing tools to discuss their thoughts in a virtual environment. Additionally, you could have your students curate sets of images on their own that can be discussed with the class in a “gallery walk” session where they explain the meaning behind each image. Through this process, your students can develop a deeper understanding of the story they are creating or the art project they are working on. Examples of hobbies for children include: crafting, painting, coding, gardening, playing music, playing sports, cooking, writing, sewing and sculpting. These hobbies have both physical and mental benefits for children, such as boosting creativity, improving imagination, increasing independence, developing fine motor skills, reducing stress and providing an enjoyable outlet for self-expression. Tue, 01 Aug 2023 21:14:29 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351811?scroll_to=3095207 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351811?scroll_to=3095207 Mon, 31 Jul 2023 23:09:45 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351811?scroll_to=3095206 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351811?scroll_to=3095206 Given that you recently celebrated your birthday, you may empathize with the protagonist in the text who is experiencing ambivalent feelings about their own birthday. As the protagonist reflects on the impact of their birthdays over the years, you can relate to the bittersweet memories that accompany the milestone. Perhaps the increased expectations placed on ourselves as we get older has generated this feeling of ambivalence. On one hand, we may feel proud of who we have grown to be and eager to take on the challenges of the coming year. On the other, we may reminisce on times that felt simpler, or bemoan how time and age have changed our lives. Either way, it's important to take a moment and appreciate the journey that has brought you to where you are today. How can rereading the text help you to further explore these complex ideas and emotions? Mon, 31 Jul 2023 23:09:22 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351314?scroll_to=3093992 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351314?scroll_to=3093992 Mon, 31 Jul 2023 16:46:53 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351581?scroll_to=3093990 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351581?scroll_to=3093990 Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:31:27 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351581?scroll_to=3093989 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351581?scroll_to=3093989 Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:29:48 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351581?scroll_to=3093988 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351581?scroll_to=3093988 Alignment: In this sentence, you have provided an overall goal for yourself—to be stress free. This provides an overarching alignment to the text which follows, which answers the question of how to reach that goal. Precision: You have used precise language to communicate the intensity and immediacy of this desire. The words “can’t wait” really capture the emphasis of the sentiment. Sequencing: By placing this sentence as the introductory sentence, you have provided a logical sequencing of events—the goal of being stress free comes before the steps to reach it. Timing: You have set a current timeline of “upcoming weeks” for this goal. This time limit makes the task seem more achievable and sets a clear timeline for the reader to start implementing. Use of props: There are no props used in this sentence and thus no additional evidence that supports it. Consider providing additional concrete ways that the reader can go about working towards their goal of being stress free. To better apply the principles of Iyengar Yoga to this text, consider adding a detail about why being stress free in upcoming weeks is so important - something you can actively do or a benefit you might expect to gain. This will add more precision and provide a greater sense of alignment to the desired goal. Now that you have contemplated these Iyengar Yoga principles, it is time to consider how best to apply them in your writing - will you follow the same order? Will you spend more or less time on each idea? Have you provided enough props or evidence? Take this introspection and apply it to the rest of your writing, and you might discover a deeper level of clarity within your words. Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:29:09 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351239?scroll_to=3092361 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351239?scroll_to=3092361 Given that you emphasize collaboration in your own life and as an educator, this passage is particularly relevant to you. As you think about what it says, you might ask yourself how it applies to your own experience. What do you think when you consider that collaboration can lead to many possible solutions? Does it change the way you look at the classroom or your own work? Where could you use collaboration in your own life, such as with your colleagues or students? How could you foster collaboration and encourage students to work together? Does it provide a new perspective on the challenges you have faced? Tue, 25 Jul 2023 09:00:11 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351239?scroll_to=3092359 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351239?scroll_to=3092359 Tue, 25 Jul 2023 09:00:11 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351239?scroll_to=3092358 https://nowcomment.com/documents/351239?scroll_to=3092358 Tue, 25 Jul 2023 09:00:11 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/316811?scroll_to=3087498 https://nowcomment.com/documents/316811?scroll_to=3087498 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 18:30:23 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/349460?scroll_to=3087456 https://nowcomment.com/documents/349460?scroll_to=3087456 You are a teacher aiming to promote, develop, and cultivate critical thinking and questioning skills in your students. One way to achieve this aim is to employ the strategies of Taiichi Ohno, a Japanese industrial engineer who contributed to the development of the Toyota Production System. His concepts focused on achieving the highest quality and productivity while minimizing waste and maintaining the highest levels of customer service. One strategy he believed in is a process called “Zero Defects”. This means checking for errors in and reevaluating each step of a process to ensure that no mistakes are going unchecked. This strategy of zero defects can be used to foster critical thinking and questioning skills in your students. By evaluating each step of a process and asking questions like, “what if something is wrong?” or “how could this step be improved?” your students can be encouraged to think critically about the problem at hand. Additionally, asking questions that help students identify the potential consequences of various solutions can help to test the potential alternatives for solving the problem, and ultimately lead students to make more informed decisions. By challenging them to examine their processes more closely and consider potential errors, zero defects can be an effective tool for helping students to hone their questioning and critical thinking skills. Mon, 10 Jul 2023 18:02:42 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/349457?scroll_to=3087436 https://nowcomment.com/documents/349457?scroll_to=3087436 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 17:52:09 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/350202?scroll_to=3087393 https://nowcomment.com/documents/350202?scroll_to=3087393 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 17:33:55 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/350202?scroll_to=3087381 https://nowcomment.com/documents/350202?scroll_to=3087381 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 17:30:08 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/350202?scroll_to=3087372 https://nowcomment.com/documents/350202?scroll_to=3087372 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 17:27:20 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3085055 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3085055 Ponder, plan and try Test our knowledge in the sky Share our wisdom wide. Sat, 08 Jul 2023 14:36:55 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3085049 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3085049 Lexile Level: 645L - 985L Rewrite: Metacognition is when we think about what we know or don't know. It's about coming up with a plan to find the answers we need. When we're thinking about and solving a problem, metacognition helps us think carefully about our strategy. Most children start using inner language around age 5, but by 11, they're able to use metacognition more effectively. Keywords: Metacognition, Prerequisite, Formal thought. Metacognition: The ability to think about one’s own thoughts and thinking processes. Prerequisite: Required as a basis for something else. Formal thought: Think logically and scientifically about a cognitive problem. Sat, 08 Jul 2023 14:33:59 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3085038 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3085038 Question 1: What are the components of metacognition? Quote from text: "The major components of metacognition are, when confronted with a problem to solve, developing a plan of action, maintaining that plan in mind over a period of time, and then reflecting on and evaluating the plan upon its completion." Definition of key terms: Metacognition - thinking about how you think; plan of action - an outline of steps with intended goals;maintaining - staying aware and conscious of; reflecting - directing one's thought back to consider someting. Question 2: Why do we need to plan before we embark on a course of action? Quote from text: "Planning a strategy before embarking on a course of action helps us keep track of the steps in the sequence of planned behavior at the conscious awareness level for the duration of the activity." Definition of key terms: plan- an outline of steps with intended goals; sequence of planned behavior - step-by-step plan of action; conscious awareness - being aware with intention and attention. Question 3: What is an example of when metacognition can be used in practice? Quote from text: "An example would be what superior teachers do daily: developing a teaching strategy for a lesson, keeping that strategy in mind throughout the instruction, and then reflecting upon the strategy to evaluate its effectiveness in producing the desired student outcomes." Definition of key terms: strategy - a plan to achieve a goal; instruction - an action of teaching; evaluating - determining value, worth, and quality of something. Go back to the text and re-read it to find the answers to my three questions before moving on to the next paragraph. Paraphrase the quotes I have provided in my answers. Sat, 08 Jul 2023 14:31:44 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3085029 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3085029 We know that active listening is a technique that requires us to reflect back all we hear without adding our own judgement or perspective. It allows us to give a better understanding of the text, and encourages our writing group for open dialogue. We all find something interesting, surprising, exciting,and sometimes even mysterious in what we read. In this text we are made to think about how we persist, and what techniques can help to understand the text better. We can focus on self-reflection, having an open dialogue, and find something unique and special in the text we may not have seen before. This gives us new perspectives and encourages us to look at things in a more creative way. We can push ourselves to discover new things and uncover answers to the mysteries that may be hidden in the text. Sat, 08 Jul 2023 14:24:51 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3085027 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3085027 Sat, 08 Jul 2023 14:17:29 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3085017 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3085017 Sat, 08 Jul 2023 14:13:45 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3085011 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3085011 Sat, 08 Jul 2023 14:12:41 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3085007 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3085007 Sat, 08 Jul 2023 14:11:46 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3084999 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3084999 Sat, 08 Jul 2023 14:10:05 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3084995 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3084995 Sat, 08 Jul 2023 14:08:59 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3084992 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3084992 Sat, 08 Jul 2023 14:07:40 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3084991 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3084991 Sat, 08 Jul 2023 14:06:54 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3084990 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=3084990 Sat, 08 Jul 2023 14:06:01 -0400