I really sympathize with you. You have 4 different preparations. Plus you seem to be working with someone who doesn't really understand the prompt response.
Students are never assessed on a graphic organizer in a formal testing situation. When I was in the classroom, my rule was to only ask students to do "assignments" they would meet in real life, I needed to assess them, or they would encounter in a testing situation. Our state requires an "extended response." I taught a graphic organizer as a way to help them organie their thoughts before they wrote. But I would never grade it. If I required it, I would give them points for including it, as you have done. You sound like a very caring, and research based teacher. Stick to your guns. Your previous experiences count! Hang in there. Carol ----- Original Message ----- From: "reading" <[email protected]> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 3:22:14 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] extended responses The graphic organizer is usually used to "organize" the response. The teacher who teaches the other classes suggested we just grade the graphic organizer if they do a "good job" on them. My kids did not. I think I didn't model it very well when I did it as a whole class. I'm hoping Wednesday to come back to them in small groups. Have them complete the organizer, and actually write it out. Then re-asses and give credit for completing the organizer. I think assessment/grading is one of the hardest things. I was almost in tears earlier. I've had plenty of years in school and in the classroom. But now that I'm in charge, I feel like I know nothing. Thanks again for the responses. It really helps put things in perspective! On Sun, Sep 20, 2009 at 1:03 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > I'm a little confused. Is the graphic organizer the response? My > understanding was to use a graphic organizer in order to organize the > information to write a response. If so, there should be a rubric for grading > the writing. > > Carol > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "reading" <[email protected]> > To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" < > [email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 9:29:33 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central > Subject: [MOSAIC] extended responses > > I don't know whether or not to call myself a first year teacher. But I > really feel like one. I taught two years as a Spec. Ed. teacher in a full > inclusion school. I have a masters in Literacy. Last year, I was a literacy > aide. This year, I am teaching a 7th grade reading, advanced reading, > strategic reading, and a health class. > I feel stretched and exhausted. Even though it's not technically my "first > year", it's my first year as a full classroom teacher. With four different > preps, I feel like I'm struggling to stay on top of everything and I'm > thinking I will be turning to this list serve quite a bit for guidance! > > My issue today is with these extended responses to a prompt. They filled in > a graphic organizer to answer a prompt from the a short story. I started > grading them this morning and they are very hard to assess and put a grade > on. I feel as though, the organizer is a draft, so putting a grade on it > doesn't seem right. If many of the students didn't do well on supporting > their evidence, should i reteach it? have them do it again? or move on, and > reteach it with a different prompt next time? I have already put a grade on > them though. > > Part of the problem is - I teach one of the classes and another teacher > teaches the other two reading classes. We are supposed to stay together and > consistent in grading, planning etc. She's retiring and primarily an > excellent art teacher. > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
