Language+Arts+Part+2

//**By Patty Canterbury **//
 * Language Arts Part II: **
 * Strategy One: Homework and Practice **

In the Language Arts class as students are studying ancient Greek civilizations and culture it will be necessary for students to learn and practice new skills. For example, in order to write their scripts for the performances, students will need to learn reading texts for information and summarizing and appropriate punctuation. One way to encourage students to practice these necessary skills is to make homework more “fun”. Homework also needs to be differentiated to students’ needs. If a student has already mastered correct punctuation, they should not have to complete more practice examples of proper punctuation. These students need to be challenged to try things they have not yet mastered. To answer this problem – I would use the Acuity – All-in-One InFormative Assessment Solution.



My school uses the Acuity system for on-line testing. One of the many benefits of this testing system is it provides teachers with detailed reports about the class as a whole and individual students. Once testing is done – units can be assigned to the class or individual students for further practice on the skills where practice is needed. The system is also designed to recognize what each student needs to learn a skill. Based on what they answer – the computer provides them more experience in problem areas and when the student shows competency moves them on to the next level o f work. Resources Needed: Computers at home or school with Internet Access. Subscription which then assigns log-in and password codes for each teacher and every student registered for the system.


 * __ Estimated Cost __** : Computers and Internet Access is already available at school. Cost for Acuity access depends on the number of students registered to use the system - cost is approximatel $2.00 to $5.00 per student.


 * __ Education Challenge __** : The Acuity – All-in-One InFormative Assessment Solution would help meet many challenges that students face when doing homework. Because it is so differentiated – it meets students at the need level where they are – which is one of the keys to improving learning. Another area that I like to use the Acuity system is for English Language Learners. Because this system allows the use of headphones and will read text and questions to students it is very useful for students whose first language is not English. These students need to see and hear the words on the screen in order to create meaning and the Acuity system meets these needs.


 * Strategy Two: Providing Feedback **


 * In the Language Arts class students will be learning about Greek culture and traditions so that they can write their scripts using accurate information. They will also need to practice spelling and punctuation necessary to write clearly. While students are learning these skills they need feedback to ensure that they are learning the right skills before they are assessed for a grade and then find out they learned a skill incorrectly. ****One way that I would provide feedback into this lesson is to use “clickers”. Clickers allow teachers to ask students questions in the classroom and get immediate and if desired anonymous results. Teachers can also get a class wide or individual report on students’ scores. Students use a hand-held response pad. Students can answer true/false and multiple choice questions. The system that is used in my school is by Turning Point Technologies. **





** To use this system in the classroom, I would teach the lesson one day and then use the turning point pads to provide feedback to students – so that they know to what level they have learned the material. By announcing to students that different questions on the same concept will be asked the following day might provide motivation to students to want to study the material so that they could answer more questions correctly the next day. **

Resources Needed ****: Computer, Smart-board with Projector, Turning Point Software, Hardware and 30 Handheld Response Pads. **
 * 


 * Estimated Cost: ** ** The computer and smart-board with projector are already present in my classroom. **
 * The cost for the Turning Point Software, Hardware and 30 clickers depends on how many are being purchased - approximately $500.00 to $700.00 **


 * Educational Challenge: ** ** The Turning Point Response System is a great tool to motivate students to try and improve their previous score which could get them to focus more on instruction, do homework and study for class. Another challenge area that I like to use the system to address is the needs of students with Learning Disabilities. These students are often very reluctant to respond to a classroom question because they are unsure of their answers. Since these students don’t respond to traditional classroom questions it is difficult for the classroom teacher to know if they are having difficulty until the teacher sees the students answers on a summative assessment. This technology helps because it allows students to respond to questions anonymously – so that no one except the teacher in the classroom knows who answered the correctly or incorrectly. The teacher can then check to see which students are having difficulty and then can work to correct students misconceptions. **