Springfield+Input


 * Friday October, 12, 2007

I spoke with Brian Hubbard the Principal at McGregor in Springfield.** When Brian was an instructional specialist he helped choose Making Meaning. Here is some of our conversation:
 * This is a great support for Readers Workshop
 * It is scripted for teachers who need more support and can read from the lesson plans directly. Some teachers need more structure and some teachers just need the resources.
 * They are are a little longer than mini-lessons
 * Meant to be a mini-lesson and then independent practice time.
 * Lots of comprehension practice
 * Social skills are built in - coop. learning structures. (Pair/share etc.)
 * Kindergarten really likes it. Raise the expectations at Kindergarten and provides support
 * I asked about classroom libraries but he said they really use a book room so they have quality, authentic books
 * Some of his teachers use A to Z but he said is very time consuming to put all the books together.

Brian would be glad to host visitors. No more than 2-3 teachers observing in each classroom. There is not enough room. I went through Leadership Academy with Brian 3 years and and he has presented at my Principal's conference so I believe that he is a reliable resource. However, this committee needs to decide what is best for us.