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Inquiry, Research, Text Evidence, and so much more!

2/11/2018

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This week I was able to spend a lot of time in classrooms observing and supporting. Following a week of data meetings, we adjusted schedules to support new reading and math interventions, writing across the curriculum, critical thinking skills through research, and using texting evidence in reading. From kindergarten to grade 8, students were engaged and enjoying learning!
What is the future of learning?

​SOLE (Self-Organized Learning Environment)

Sole helps students develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, research, and communication skills.





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Khan Academy for math support
Moby Max for reading/math support
What Is Writing Across the Curriculum?
Teachers across disciplines (subject areas), use writing-to-learn and writing-to-demonstrate knowledge strategies to deepen the learning of students in all content areas.

Writing promotes learning
• Integration of writing and the writing process promotes student participation, a diversity of      student voices, and engage students as critical thinkers while promoting their texts as important resources and thinking tools
• Effective writing instruction integrates disciplines
• Opportunities to write in every class develops good writers
• Only by practicing the thinking and writing conventions of an academic discipline will students begin to communicate effectively within that discipline. 

Ways we support writing, no matter what subject we're teaching:

  1. Journal Writing: Informal writing that provides a safe place for students to summarize their thoughts while building confidence.
  2. Think-Pair-Share: After a lecture or presentation, students are invited to record their thoughts. Then they are paired up with another student to discuss the topic. Finally, the discussion is opened up to the whole class. Discussions are richer when students have an opportunity to organize their thinking and gain perspective from others prior to discussing with the whole group. (also builds on confidence)
  3. Quick-Writes: Quick-writes are great ways to get students to practice writing and critical thinking skills. They’re designed to focus the student’s thinking. Timers are set for 10 minutes and students are given a writing prompt, picture, quote, or a question...anything to get them thinking and writing.
  4. Self-Assessments: Throughout the year students are invited to self-assess their learning (reflect) within their units of inquiry and character development (The Learner Profile). Ask them what the most difficult part of the class has been or what they’ve loved learning. Not only will they get practice writing, you’ll get valuable insight into how your child is learning and what you can do to help them even more!
  5. Real World Writing: Mathematicians write theorems and textbook problems. Scientists write lab reports. Journalists in all fields write articles, writers write books, journal articles, parents write notes, lists, etc. This type of writing shows students the relevancy of writing skills and how it is applied in daily life.
  6. Note Taking: We begin working on this in  kindergarten with our pictures and labels of what we learned from listening to the teacher. By grade 1, students are practicing this with their research skills using SOLE and independent research. The toughest part is helping them "put it in their own words" paraphrasing. 
  7. Research Projects: The Common Core Standards and IB require all students to be able to research a topic in any discipline and write about it. The goal is for all students to become self-directed learners that are adept at researching, writing, and presenting a wide variety of subjects. 


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Congrats to our MYP Ambassadors who came to school Ready to Learn by being Balanced!
 
Names (nominated by)
Vivian Cox
(Dudik)
 Claire Brazalovics (Arens)
Isabel Wood (Taylor)
Amiyah Hart (Perry)
Catherine Mullin-Vanneste (Thomas)
Victor Boyd (Weber)
Nalmah Ali (Orbash)
Carli Jordan (Kane)
Terri Jackson (Mishaga)



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Kindergarten
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Opinion Writing
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"How to" writing
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Inquiry

​Where We are in Place and Time
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Grade 1
Researching with SOLE 
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Grade 2
Researching Famous Black Americans
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Grade 3
Researching using SOLE on Economic Choices
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Using paired texts to cite evidence in opinion writing
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Reading about local and global news in the Plain Dealer Newspaper and making connections with our current unit of inquiry
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Grade 4
Researching and using evidence to support writing

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​Black History Research
Inquiry into Electricity



Grade 5
Exploring African American History and Culture website to prepare for Black History Research papers
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Reading nonfiction texts and learning how to highlight, take notes, summarize, and write an essay using multiple sources.
MYP
Creativity~Activity~Service
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Literature Circles
A Long Walk to Water
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Enjoying our guests this week!
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MARI BLACK TRIO 

Featuring: Mari Black, violin; Conor Hearn, guitar; Joe Magar, bass

Mari Black (click to learn more)
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Doug Wood
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Classically-Infused Folk, Rock, Jazz instrumental guitar

Doug Wood (click to learn more)
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Chef Eric Wells

Skye LaRae's Culinary Services (click to learn more)
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Kent State University
​

​Education students studying to become IB teachers visited CIS to see the IB curriculum in action.

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Guest Reader

Grade 1 
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​"Reese's Dad"





​Celebrating Friendship on No One Eats Alone Day 
and
 Red, White, and Blue Day for the Opening of the
​ Winter Olympic Games
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​When asked by a visitor from Kent State,  "What do you like the most about the IB curriculum and Campus International?" 4th grader Yazmeen replied,
"Everybody fits in...no one is left out."


Keep choosing kindness, CIS!
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    Author:
    ​Dora Bechtel

    Welcome to my Campus International School blog.  Campus International is an International Baccalaureate School on the campus of Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio.  

    As Instructional Leader at CIS, I am able to enjoy the learning  taking place in all classrooms K-8. This blog will give you a glimpse into our wonderful world of learning through inquiry, and share some strategies you can use with your child/students.

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