Component 3 Tips #2

Here are the "Cliffs Notes" from our Component 3 Intensive last night, in case you missed it:

1) Looking at the Overview in your Component 3 Instructions, there are three skills you are demonstrating-- planning and instruction, student engagement; safe and challenging learning environment.

2) When you look at "What Do I Need to Do" look at each of the yellow bullet points and address them completely.  For example,  if you are supposed to be fostering reading, writing, listening, speaking, and visual literacy-- you need to address ALL of those and EACH of those as much as possible in your two videos.  My personal advice is address each point three times-- "Clear, Consistent, and Convincing Evidence!"  Dissect that information and make sure your lesson thoroughly addresses all the bullet points.

3) The focus is on student engagement with the content, rather than with the teacher.  Try to design lessons for higher level thinking that use student learning conversations as a primary focus.  What strategies do you use to encourage classroom discourse?

4) How well do you know your students as learners AND outside the classroom.  Does it show in your video?

5) As you analyze your video, be sure to address ALL the students rather than just the ones in the foreground.  What are the students behind them doing, and why?

6) If you had to count the number of times YOU initiated interaction with students vs. the number of times THEY initiated interaction with you or with another student, would this video be heavily student centered?  If so, GREAT!

7) Look at your level 4 rubric and don't let any word escape you.  If it's in there, it's important.

8) Ask for help.  There are many people who will read for you and help you look at your videos with your rubric in mind.  This is when a cohort becomes powerful--the collaboration between you and other teachers pushes all of your thinking and understanding to higher levels!

Here's a link to an older post with more resources.  And another one.