Lower School Curriculum

Suggested Reflection Questions

1. Your role at Burke's

2. When did this opportunity take place?

3. Summary of workshop/ opportunity

4. Goals & Collaborations:

   - What were your big takeaways from your workshop or project?

We attended a one day workshop to better understand how to use Morpheme Magic (a supplemental program the 4th grade is pilotting). The workshop gave a great overview of brain based research in learning to read and the importance of studying morphology in the upper grades. Most importantly, it helped me to understand the sequence of lessons we were supposed to do in a week and how to try to make these lessons efficient and straightforward.

It was great that three of us were able to attend (Simone, Olivia and I) so that we can collaborate on this new program together.

I really love Jo Boaler and all of her ideas about teaching and learning math. I really enjoyed the basic concepts that she shares and it gave me a better understanding of the concepts behind week of inspirational math and why we teach math the way we do. It seemed really foreign to be when I first showed up at Burke's and this PD really demystified some of it for me.

I do recommend finding an in person PD of Jo Boaler, the online format was really hard for me and I found the reflection boards hard to parse through. Or, maybe find someone else to do the online class with!

I highly recommend the 3 day Responsive Classroom PD. It allowed me to clarify and more deeply understand some of the Responsive Classroom principles that were a little glossed over or vague like envisioning language or how important it is to think about developmental milestones of the students we are teaching and how important it is to consider when creating a classroom culture.

I am constantly referring back to my RC books as tools. I feel like I will know the basic building blocks of how to build a positive classroom environment. My biggest take away is that every little thing really matters when building your classroom and intentionality is always welcome.