I have been lucky enough to receive so much professional development already at Ken Taylor School. Recently, we have been offered professional development by Miriam Trehearne, who is a leading literacy specialist. She has been leading all the staff through different conversations, reflections, and teachings about how to make our students even stronger in reading, writing, oral conversations, and listening. She has provided us with high yield strategies that will immediately impact our students. I have already learned so much and today I wasted no time trying one of these strategies with the class.
Before starting, I explained to the students that I too am learning and that this would be new for all of us. I am proud to say it was a great success!! We worked on a strategy called "Sketch and Stretch". This strategy helps students with their comprehension. Here is how it works:
sketch as many details as you remember from reading/text selection/oral story
shares/how their sketches with a small group or partner. This conversation opens us conversation about the story and what happened.
extension: allow students to write behind their drawing. They can write key words, sentences, feelings or even questions.
