With the words 'critical thinking' buzzing around so frequently, we may be under the assumption that we have a nation of students effectively analyzing and evaluating ideas, events and their individual thinking; generating clear sound judgment, and significantly increasing graduation rates among low income, and underserved communities. Generally speaking, at the least we would have experienced increased academic achievement and independent … [Read more...]
About Nasira Waters
What’s in a Word?
How many times have you experienced students who struggle with comprehending information? As teachers this is an area that many face year after year. Like many others, we implement different strategies and processes that support student's comprehension. At times we've supported student's progress while continuing to see many others suffer. Throughout my years of teaching and mentoring teachers I have observed students lacking basic analytical … [Read more...]
Data Driven Instruction: How Can We Gather Student Data From Each Lesson?
There is and has been an ongoing focus on using student data to drive instruction. This focus has spurred program and textbook developers to integrate assessments throughout tasks/projects, providing teachers with opportunities to determine their students comprehension of a task/concept through pre-, benchmark and post assessments. Ideally, the results aid teachers in determining each student’s level of comprehension and areas of growth. However, … [Read more...]
Can Your Student Explain the Why and How?
As teachers we want our students to get it. We long for them to show us that they can do the work, that they understand what we have taught. After all, we’ve spent a great deal of time reading, researching, planning and gathering materials for differentiating, etc. Then we observe student’s work and either find an exemplary, proficient, developing or inaccurate response. However, when teaching analyzing and/or evaluating (which is best taught … [Read more...]
How do I Set the Standard?
Modeling Expectations It sounds cliché, but we must honestly, "Be the change we wish to see". Overall, our students tend to follow our lead. If we have a pattern of showing up out of sorts in our appearance and/or attitude students tend to respond accordingly. Our expectations, whether or not verbalized, are demonstrated externally on a daily basis. Students don't often articulate them, but in many cases, they respond to them. I cannot count … [Read more...]