Conclusion and final reflections...
As we wrap up this book study, please take a moment to consider how reading this text disrupted YOUR thinking! Join us at #OCTELA18 for "live reflections"! Friday 3:15-4:00 German Village
115 Comments
Lisa Frase
8/7/2017 01:35:29 pm
Reading this book has disrupted the way that I teach reading and zeroed in on ways that I can hopefully engage my students in reading and talking about what they read. For me, the most disruptive parts of the book would be the BHH framework and signposts.
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Angie Toole
8/7/2017 02:07:00 pm
Lisa, I am also very grateful for having read the book, the discussions, and listening to Heidi's reflections. I also love the slide show she posted in week 10. I will definitely be using those to disrupt my thinking in the classroom.
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Molly Klodor
8/8/2017 11:13:45 am
I love that you've identified ways to use the framework with your own practices. I hope I can find ways to integrate the framework in a similar way this school year!
steve murray
8/11/2017 07:02:06 am
Agreed. I am teaching a fair number of ESl high schoolers this coming year, mainly Somali kids but others as well. The slide presentations have given me some useful, tangible ideas for my students to anchor their thoughts.
Jennie Burris
8/7/2017 03:02:22 pm
Lisa -
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Lisa Frase
8/7/2017 06:09:46 pm
Jennie,
Andrea Conover
8/9/2017 06:41:33 am
I was thinking the same, Jennie! Thank you for the idea, Lisa!
Heather Barnes
8/9/2017 01:27:21 pm
And, Jennie, he will share the bookmark with you and you will, of course, share with me! ;)
Angela Westlake
8/7/2017 04:21:10 pm
Lisa, I like how you applied what we've learned to a text you already use in your class. I also have been challenged to increase the amount of time that my students are reading! I loved the idea of "focused silent reading" because there definitely has to be a balance between never having kids read and just sending them off to look at books with no accountability.
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Lisa Frase
8/7/2017 06:13:07 pm
Thanks, Angela - yes, I am excited to see how focused silent reading works! I just got a copy of a Harvey Daniel's book about mini-lessons with literature circles, and I am hoping maybe a couple of those will apply to mini-lessons for FSR. And, I agree - FSR has to be a balance! 8/11/2017 05:48:10 pm
I agree; I don't want students to do much because then we take away the pleasure aspects of reading, but it is important to hold them accountable for reflecting on their books and thinking about how they "disrupted" their own thinking.
Kelly Cummings
8/16/2017 03:10:03 pm
Thank you Lisa. I had some of the same realizations as I read this as well. This book really got me to disrupt my own thinking.
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Angie Toole
8/7/2017 01:49:32 pm
I can't believe it has already been 10 weeks. I have learned so much from this class and can't wait to implement it in my classroom. Some of the things I will focus on is the BHH bookmarks, prompts for post it notes and trying to use more dialogic questions. I want to disrupt my way of having kids always associated with a reading level or assigned book. I value reading both out loud and silent reading. It is important for my students to choose books they want to read not just be assigned. As they read we all need to think how did this book change my thinking? How did I change from reading this book? I want my students and myself to respond more emotionally and intellectually from what we have read. I need to go out of my comfort zone and worry less about the tests and more about getting students to read and enjoy reading from their head and from their heart.
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Jennie Burris
8/7/2017 03:00:32 pm
Angie -
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Angela Westlake
8/7/2017 04:23:40 pm
Angie, I am also planning to ask my students questions about how the text changed them! This is something I haven't done in the past, but I am convinced that this will help create more thoughtful readers and citizens! The BHH bookmarks are a great idea. I'm also eager to use some of these ideas in my classroom this year!
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Tracy Obringer
8/7/2017 05:22:25 pm
I have been teaching for 14 years and have taught A LOT of reading. I have never thought about asking them how the book changed them. I think it is possible to over-use this question, but I definitely think it could be used with my big whole-class novels. I would love to see how my students would respond to this question after reading books like Speak, A Long Way Gone, or To Kill A Mockingbird!
Andrea Conover
8/9/2017 06:43:38 am
While thinking about some of the themes and units my grade levels uses, I, too, can't wait to ask kids how the reading has changed them. I think it will lead to some really thought-provoking and insightful conversations!!
Jen Zarlino
8/15/2017 12:55:18 pm
I also never thought about asking students about how the text changed them, but I will now. It also has me thinking about the texts I use for shared texts and what I add to my classroom library. I have to read and put texts in their hands that will change them, challenge them, disturb them. I read Kylene Beers letter on her blog today in response to the events in Charlottesville and she mentioned the importance of putting books in students hands that are diverse. I think I've been doing that, but I want to do better.
Kelly Cummings
8/16/2017 03:14:52 pm
I can't wait to ask the students how has this book changed them! I can honestly say I have never asked that questions, but as I reflect on the novels we read throughout the year, I can't wait to hear their answers! 8/16/2017 04:58:09 pm
Tracy, since there wasn't a reply to your comment, I would also like to hear students responses to how the book changed them with The Outsiders"! Especially with the negative connotation the title sends. In light of what is happening in our world today....it might be beneficial to give students a voice!
Tracy Obringer
8/7/2017 05:20:34 pm
Angie,
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Tara O'Hea
8/8/2017 03:35:14 pm
I totally agree with you. I will also incorporate more dialogic questions as well as make sure that my students relate to the books we read on an emotional level. it has been a pleasure doing this book club with all of you.
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Joan Miller
8/8/2017 07:28:56 pm
I agree- I want to worry less about levels and more about what books kids want to read but as a middle school teacher, I will also sneak in some assigned reading. But, I plan to try to to use the BHH framework to up the level of our discussions, etc… by asking them how this reading changed them. I'm excited to see what this does for classroom conversations. Good luck this school year!
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8/16/2017 05:00:22 pm
I totally agree with adding the BHH framework to my novel discussions and assignments. I have also created a reference bulletin board where many of the "images" from the book will be posted.
Andrea Conover
8/9/2017 06:42:37 am
I also love how Beers and Probts discuss their approaches with multiple age levels. It makes the strategies so much more approachable knowing they can work with any level! It also makes vertical alignment in a district so much easier! :)
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Barb Gall
8/20/2017 10:25:44 am
I agree with you! I'm grateful that i was able to see the BHH framework used across multiple levels. It is such a simple framework that can have such a powerful effect when all students disrupt their thinking:)
Heather Barnes
8/9/2017 01:30:11 pm
Angie -- I completely agree that we teach students and not standards. That was one of my favorite statements made in the book. Sometimes with all of the testing and data collection, we need to take a step back and disrupt our thinking. Find ways to make our classroom work for all of our kids.
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8/11/2017 05:52:17 pm
I love that focus-I was really intrigued listening to a podcast (Mom and Dad are Fighting-a hilarious & insightful parenting podcast even if you don't have kids) yesterday on whether or not it is ethical to buy a house in a "better test scores" school district that "happened to be" less ethically diverse. The advisors on the podcast basically said that it is less about the test scores and more about the societal impact a family can make by choosing a more inclusive district.
Tracy Obringer
8/14/2017 12:53:23 pm
I wish all administrators at the local and (more importantly) the state level would realize this! I feel as though the "test" is all that seems to matter to them. Sometimes I wonder if I teaching students are just little robotic test takers. Just today my own 4th grade son said he hates ELA class. He said he likes to read and LOVES to write his own stories...but when it comes to "Author's purpose and main idea...it is SO boring" (all said while crnging). I had to agree and I spend a large portion of my day teaching just that!!
Molly Klodor
8/21/2017 06:51:47 pm
Sarah, I love that question about buying a house. You may have already listened to this, but you may want to listen to This American Life's "The Problem We All Live With." I listened to it last summer and it really left me with some major thoughts for our new school year.
Jackie Blosser
8/12/2017 04:16:18 pm
Angie,
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Miranda Franck
8/15/2017 08:23:39 pm
Ladies,
Kelly Cummings
8/16/2017 03:13:15 pm
I agree! I have gotten so many great ideas from this. I also think it's cool that there are so many different grade levels taking this course and we are all getting something from it!
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Katy Flynn
8/22/2017 06:48:57 pm
I appreciate the focus on having students reflect on how their reading affected them, both in micro and macro ways. I think that I have an opportunity to ask them those questions about how a text (whether a book, an article, or some other form) affected them on a personal level as a science teacher. I have some students who refute various scientific theories, and I think some of the frameworks introduced and explored in Disrupting Thinking may assist me in helping them think critically about the numerous opinions they hold regarding a whole slew of topics.
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Kate Simons
8/22/2017 08:07:25 pm
Hello Angie,
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Jennie Burris
8/7/2017 02:58:06 pm
10 weeks with this book discussion group went by super fast! I have learned a lot from this book but the one thing that I think I will take away the most is the BHH format. I truly believe that my special education students will benefit from thinking about text in this way.
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Angela Westlake
8/7/2017 04:26:03 pm
Jennie, thanks for your reflection! BHH was also what disrupted my thinking the most, too. I think all students would benefit from this concept and the way it is presented. I agree that all of the scenarios really helped solidify my thinking about using BHH in my classroom this year. I also hope my students will gain insight through more class discussions about text!
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Tara O'Hea
8/8/2017 03:36:17 pm
I am a special education teacher too. i agree with you. the BHH is so helpful for all students, and especially our students. i am looking forward to implementing this framework this school year.
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Angie Toole
8/8/2017 06:59:42 pm
Jennie,
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Heather Barnes
8/9/2017 01:25:53 pm
Jennie -- while we won't get to teach together this year (boo!!!), I'm looking forward to having conversations about how we're using these new ideas in our classrooms and sharing materials. :)
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Megan McCaffrey
8/10/2017 07:36:17 am
The same chapters/sections you mentioned are the same ones that I also need to be more open minded about. Silent reading IS important...I'm sure none of us disagree--I just strugggle with when to fit that into a school day/year. Additionally, reading the same books is just so standard for me--I know there can be other ways for have students read literature, not all the same at the same time!
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Miranda Franck
8/15/2017 08:25:39 pm
This book made me feel confident that SSR is ok to get "caught" on a walk through. I always feel judged when "they are only reading." Reading is the foundation.
Angela Westlake
8/7/2017 04:17:03 pm
When I first began reading this book, I thought a lot about the way we traditionally teach reading and how it often isn't effective at creating lifelong readers. It seems like everywhere we turn, there are new ideas for better teaching, and these ideas are often contradictory. However, I've known that there is more I can do as a teacher of literacy.
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Jennie Burris
8/7/2017 04:24:18 pm
Angela -
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Katy Flynn
8/22/2017 06:59:09 pm
I love that you brought this all back to “This is why we do a book study, right?” – that reminds me that we’re not just random people doing some random book study. We came together because we initially found some intrigue in this text, and have spent 10 weeks (-ish) sharing and brainstorming, processing and theoretically applying what we’ve been experiencing. I’ve enjoyed seeing how everyone has interpreted and processed various points of the book and how different ideas have been sticking points with different people.
Lisa Frase
8/7/2017 06:20:52 pm
Angela,
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Tara O'Hea
8/8/2017 03:38:29 pm
I agree with you. I feel like some readers naturally incorporate BHH as part of their comprehension process. however, students need to be taught this strategy. I cannot wait to see how BHH impacts my students' comprehension this school year!
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Barb Gall
8/20/2017 10:30:11 am
Angela,
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Tracy Obringer
8/7/2017 05:29:07 pm
It is hard to believe that we have studying this book for 10 weeks! I feel as though we just started!! Where has the summer gone?
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Lisa Frase
8/7/2017 06:23:59 pm
Great point, Tracy! Now, you have me thinking -- our students are SO tech savvy and different from the students when we started teaching (22 years ago for me) -- does that make them different readers, too?
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Tracy Obringer
8/8/2017 06:41:59 pm
Lisa,
Joan Miller
8/8/2017 07:32:43 pm
Lisa- what a great point! It stands to reason that kids are different readers now because of the influx of tech and the demands it places on students. Demands that are different than probably most of us navigated as students. Great point!
Molly Klodor
8/8/2017 11:08:06 am
I like how you identify a major issue in our current student body - they aren't critical readers. Our building has been discussing the lack of critical thinking and reading among our students for the last few years without any real answers. I think that the BHH framework, while not perfect for my high school students, might help some of our students think more critically as they read.
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8/16/2017 05:03:38 pm
I just made a critical reading poster as well! It will also be added to my reference board. I shared it with Heidi if who wants to post it. I did use an image I saw somewhere to model or create mine.
Angie Toole
8/8/2017 07:21:52 pm
You have a very valid point Tracy. Todays students are looking for instant gratification and it totally makes sense connecting instant gratification with not feeling inclined to question a text.I also believe the bookmarks and signposts will force them to slow down and focus.
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steve murray
8/11/2017 07:39:30 am
I would say many of "today's students" are looking for instant gratification. I would also add most adults they see in the world around them are looking for that same instant gratification. I am not trying to sound preachy, but after 30 years of teaching I react strongly to adults who say what "kids" or "schools" or "teachers" are failing to do when teachers are often lambasted whatever we do, schools are often considered failing even thought it is the wider society that has failed the schools, and kids, who do not put those gadgets in their own hands, are so often only emulating what they see around them.
Molly Klodor
8/8/2017 11:12:23 am
On page 162, the authors state "Our democracy, after all, is in some sense created and maintained in language. The Constitution for instance, is expected to control and direct many of the nation's important decisions. We don't vest that power in an individual - a dictator or monarch - but rather we require an individual to swear that he or she will be bound by those words. Amending them, when it is found necessary to do so, is an arduous process, in part because as a society we respect those words and want them to govern and protect us."
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Joan Miller
8/8/2017 07:34:42 pm
So well said Molly! We do need to "double down" on the importance of words and language. I think that with the barrage of words via texts, social media, etc.. we forget the power of words and what they mean to children and to adults. I like that this book brought that front and center! We do need it to preserve our dignity as humans!
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Kate Simons
8/22/2017 08:22:54 pm
When reading is considered in that manner, its importance becomes so clear. Words matter!
Megan McCaffrey
8/10/2017 07:54:40 am
A focus on the importance of language, reading, etc. is a great way to reiterate to students the how & why they need to read. It's not always for enjoyment--most reading people do through the day isn't...but a balance can be found! See you soon, Molly!
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Bob Long
8/11/2017 03:32:21 pm
I agree, Molly. I've been looking over my new English 11 text book this week and I see it begins with the Declaration of Independence. Sounds like a good time to discuss the importance of words and the reason we need to be able to read and understand them. Thanks for the addition to my lesson plan. :-)
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Jen Zarlino
8/15/2017 01:02:57 pm
This also stood out to me! I was thinking about all of the fake news sites and how written word has power, whether it is true or not. Recently, though, it seems like I can't trust a lot of what I read and I love that you want to bring back the power of the written word. I think I might take on that goal, too.
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Tara O'Hea
8/8/2017 03:40:09 pm
Thank you so much for putting together this awesome book study/class. i ahve learned so much from each and everyone of you.
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Angie Toole
8/8/2017 07:15:13 pm
Tara, I agree with you. A moment that my reading was really disrupted was when I stopped and thought about how the text changed me. In the past I read for entertainment and to gain knowledge.I never really stopped to think how has this changed me.During this course I read a book someone had recommended.It was the first time I really stopped to think how the text changed me. While reading the book and after it was very insightful for me to reflect on these changes.
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Traci Kennedy-Brockfield
8/8/2017 09:47:03 pm
I told a friend that between this book study's charts and the other anchor charts we have to make for our Reading and Writing UoS this year I won't have any wall space left!
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8/11/2017 05:54:20 pm
Traci-I certainly know that feeling that among the educational posters, vocabulary word walls and bookshelves, I had to start hanging things on top of windows and on the ceiling (alas, the fire marshal frowned on that). Good luck getting it all on the walls!
Joan Miller
8/8/2017 07:41:55 pm
I always love summer since I spend so much time re-energizing myself as an educator. This book was a great summer read to excite me to go back to school. I love the idea of talking about how books change the reader. I love this idea and am already building a quick small group toolkit to introduce it right away to some of my students as we start the school year. I also am so excited to share what we've read and discussed in this book study with the 40+ teachers that i work with… I think there are many entry points for the workshop teachers that I work with. Thank you all so much!
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Traci Kennedy-Brockfield
8/8/2017 09:46:00 pm
I wish I could say the same, but this summer has been very busy with my 7 and 9 year old (and I fear the next few will also be crazy and less about me)! Every time I sat down to read, they would need my help or want me to do something with them. It's so hard to balance that sometimes, but I'm so grateful that I made the priority to get through this book and book talk because it has energized me!
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Jenn Ramage
8/25/2017 06:27:01 pm
I can definitely relate, Traci. Thankfully, my kids are now at ages (7, 10, 12) that they are in practices that allow me to have some time to myself once my transportation responsibilities have been fulfilled! Many mornings I read during swim team practice, which was nice. Hang in there - soon enough we'll be lamenting the fact that the kids are driving themselves around or headed to college!
Jen Zarlino
8/15/2017 01:06:51 pm
I agree that there are many ways the information in the book and the BHH framework can support work in a workshop classroom. It is energizing when I keep hearing the same thinking from well known authors and educators- I feel like I'm on the right path!
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Traci Kennedy-Brockfield
8/8/2017 09:44:19 pm
Ah - so much has disrupted my thinking! I loved a lot of the same things people have mentioned - BHH, the questioning we provide students, SSR/FSR and more. As my school year is quickly approaching, I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything and figure out how to do it all while learning a new curriculum. Our district is putting Reaing Units of Study into place, but we haven't really had PD yet to learn a ton, so it's based on everything we have had time to do on our own this summer until PD next week (ha!). I'm very fortunate to have had several building colleagues in on this book study so I will have people close by to conference with myself and ponder how to use a lot of this text in my classroom.
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8/10/2017 08:59:26 am
Traci,
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Barb Gall
8/20/2017 10:23:12 am
I am so looking forward to traveling the path of implementing RUOS with you! I am sure that we can use what we learned in this book study to push our students even further:)
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Bob Long
8/9/2017 06:16:44 am
I’m quite anxious for my classes to start this year so I can get into this before I forget it. I highlighted parts in the book that I want to go back and review and try this year. Using those concepts should be exciting. The problem I have right now is that I’ve been too busy to clear my head and figure out exactly how I want to utilize them. To that point, I’m actually going away for two days late next week so that I can focus on the first semester and wrap my head around this. It’s sort of a little planning retreat.
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Megan McCaffrey
8/10/2017 07:52:03 am
We'll have to talk about all of these ideas when we get back to school. See you soon, Bob!
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Amy B
8/11/2017 03:22:47 pm
Book club sounds like a great way to use BHH without having to reinvent your classroom! I am curious what differences you find in teaching Disruptive Thinking practices with the two different class groups. I wonder if the age of the student will change the results of the strategies.
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Andrea Conover
8/9/2017 06:53:28 am
Like after reading the Notice & Note texts, I can't wait to implement some of these strategies. The BHH Framework blew my mind and I cannot wait to introduce that reading strategy to my 6th graders at the start of this year!
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Lisa Frase
8/9/2017 08:08:01 am
Andrea,
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Megan McCaffrey
8/10/2017 07:50:59 am
One of the most important things for me is to make what I have my students do, relevant. Some times, I need to teach to a test--it's not ideal--but at least the students know there is a reason behind it. Untimately, I try to find texts that are relevant to students. Each text won't be relevant to all students at the same time but by the end of the I hope something my students to read resonates with them!
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steve murray
8/11/2017 07:35:05 am
Like many of us I suppose I always dread letting students do evaluations of me. But for the most part they have helpful (albeit occasionally painful). This is particularly true in regards to what we have read. At the end of a semester or year I have students rank the activities we did and the works we read. I have been surprised at both ends of the Like/Dislike spectrum. For me it's important that they are allowed anonymity and that we have time as a class afterwards to discuss what they said. Like I said, sometimes painful, but usually helpful. 8/10/2017 08:55:14 am
Andrea,
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Jennie Joseph
8/19/2017 11:27:24 am
Andrea -- I struggled with their assessment of the value of the read aloud. You said you were going to reread and think about it more. Wondering your thoughts. I hate to say this, but I'm not sure I agree with Bob and Kylene on the read aloud. I've been a middle school teacher (for 14 years) where we didn't do this, or if we did, it was on a small scale...like a chapter. Now that I'm in 5th and 6th grade, each of my 3 teachers does this at least once a year with a whole novel and I see enormous benefits. READING skills, not just listening skills.
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Heather Barnes
8/9/2017 01:23:33 pm
And just like that, the summer comes to an end! It's been a couple of years since I've engaged in more than just one or two days of PD over the summer months. I enjoyed being engaged weekly and reflecting on my past classroom practices and planning for the upcoming year.
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Megan McCaffrey
8/10/2017 07:47:14 am
The big 3 questions will be incorporated into my lessons, for sure. Such a quick and easy way to get a class discussion going....and make students think about the text they read.
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Bob Long
8/11/2017 03:27:10 pm
I'm going to be incorporating these questions into my book club discussions. I'm anxious to try them out.
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Jackie Blosser
8/13/2017 08:35:01 am
Bob and Meghan,
Jenn Ramage
8/25/2017 06:22:38 pm
I wrote a note in the margin next to the example about remembering the story without the characters' names: "I love this so much...parallels knowing the context of important historical events rather than the minutiae of specific dates and minor details." I'm working on brainstorming ways to use more dialogic questioning in my classroom.
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Megan McCaffrey
8/10/2017 07:45:47 am
The end of this book study means the end of summer : (
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Amy B
8/11/2017 03:20:19 pm
I also enjoyed how 'bare bones' the frame work of BHH was so it did fit any curriculum, reading book, or grade level. Over the months I have read on these postings confident teachers of a variety of grade levels which is really inspiring to try out BHH. I too found the idea of not reading the class novel at the same time to go against what I am seeing taught in the classroom. I am going to be giving my copy of Disruptive Thinking to my LA partner so they can too see the unique strategies provided in this text.
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Kate Simons
8/22/2017 08:32:12 pm
Megan, you are so correct! This has been the best PD! As a science teacher, I was a little nervous to jump into a discussion about reading with a group of mostly english teachers. But...the book made everything seem so achievable. I am definitely going into this school year confident that I will be able to implement some new strategies that will be beneficial for my students! I can't wait to try out all of the new techniques I learned this summer!
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8/10/2017 08:52:07 am
As we wrap up this book study, I want to first remark to all of you that took your time out of the summer to network and learn together. KUDOS to all of US!
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steve murray
8/11/2017 07:30:25 am
With my senior class that is the most "literature"-based of my Humanities courses this fall I am going to begin with a questionnaire/interest survey. As I've said elsewhere in these posts I really need to focus on getting myself off-center. This is something I have worked on for decades. Still have a hard time if i feel like the kids are not "getting it," whatever "it" may be and whatever it means to "get" it. I think i get caught up in the notion that if we don't hit the ground 100 mph with me talking at them and giving them a mind-boggling number of "dos" and "don'ts" from th opening bell that somehow I will lose them or they will become too comfortable, or whatever. It's exhausting for me and for them... I also plan to utilize the "How did this text change you?" idea. In the class mentioned above the kids read two novels, Frankenstein and 1984 for summer reading assignments. I will start with those questions the first week. Then, after we have done some work together on the novels over the next couple of weeks I will return to that question; maybe even modify it to something like "Now that we have read AND discussed (novel) how did it change you?"
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Amy B
8/11/2017 03:17:52 pm
I just went to a conference that loved to use phrases cute phrases to describe when teachers are on stage (direct instruction), side stage (facilitating), and behind stage (observing). It made me laugh because I knew someone was making a name for themselves by creating catchy phrases for old ideas.
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Jennie Joseph
8/19/2017 11:36:30 am
Steve -- My district is relying a lot on Lucy Calkins Reading Teacher College stuff. And although we aren't falling it word for word (we made that mistake with the very dense writing kit), we are using the framework to help guide us to a more student centered approach. It has students reading a lot more of the time and teachers conferencing about their reading during that time. I feel like some of the framework is right on with what Bob and Kylene are saying too.
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Amy B
8/11/2017 03:10:38 pm
I summed up my conclusions in small simple statements so I won't lose my thoughts over this year. My goals with reading have definitely changed and now even as the math teacher I will be advocating for more choice reading in my classroom.
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Bob Long
8/11/2017 03:33:44 pm
Does anybody know where to get a BHH wall poster for the classroom?
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Heidi Weber
8/16/2017 06:52:19 am
There are many people sharing resources in the Facebook Disrupting Thinking group...
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8/11/2017 05:56:33 pm
I feel like my biggest takeaway from Disruptive Thinking and BHH was the validation of moving away from the book's guiding questions and more towards the students' questions.
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Jackie Blosser
8/12/2017 04:08:25 pm
I am so glad I responded to Heidi's offer in the spring to participate in this book study. This book really disrupted my thinking especially on the importance of independent reading time, student choice, and whole class novels. I have so many take always from this experience including all of the participants' comments and suggestions. This will be the first book that I use with the instructional coaches in my district. We need to collectively make a change in our district to regain students' love for reading! Thank you Heidi for organizing this opportunity.
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Katy Flynn
8/22/2017 07:05:25 pm
Jackie, I think that it’s a great idea to use this with the instructional coaches. What really stands out from your reflection is your quote “We need to collectively make a change in our district to regain students' love for reading!”. We absolutely need to be strong and unanimous upholding the importance of reading. If many people are on board with the various strategies you or a team choose to implement, the support will be so much more effective. It may encourage reading across disciplines. I want to be able to encourage SSR in science just as an ELA teacher would, in an attempt to strengthen reading and to foster enthusiastic readers.
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Jenn Ramage
8/25/2017 06:18:02 pm
I firmly believe a love for reading is disappearing. However, I also believe a collective model for students can ignite the spark in all students. I would love for my district to this on as a united initiative on behalf of our students - everyone would win!
Jen Zarlino
8/15/2017 12:49:52 pm
This book study was extremely powerful and hearing the voices of many educators thinking about their practice, asking questions and sharing answers, and sharing out practices that work for them has been motivating and thought provoking. I can only speak for the experiences I've had working in my district, but middle school literacy practices haven't really changed much from when I was a middle school student and I have been doing a lot of work to inform my practice, and now as a literacy coach, to work with fellow teachers to support them in their practices. This book confirmed my belief that time and choice is powerful for building a love of reading and stamina in our students. It confirmed for me that feedback through conferences is a powerful teaching tool, although I am still learning about conferring. The BHH framework disrupts the notion that every time my students read a text they must be questioned about specifics. Students need time to consider how their reading impacts them, how it is relevant to their learning and their lives.
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Miranda Franck
8/15/2017 08:45:04 pm
This book validated the way I teach, and, better yet, offered me fresh ideas and methods to improve my lessons. It has rejuvenated me, and I, of course, LOVE that I feel treated like a professional, earning 30 hours for this work. I would love to do this every summer and highly recommend it. With so many schools' budgets being cut, online learning communities are more important than ever. I'm super picky with my PD and never pick events to simply put in the time: this was worth my time and will help keep me from being the out of touch teacher I vowed to never be. My book is annotated like crazy; even passages I will share with my students are starred.
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Miranda Franck
8/15/2017 08:30:18 pm
I think it would be a useful follow-up for everyone to share a handout they have made and or found so we all don't have to start from scratch and have a bank of resources at our fingertips.
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jennie joseph
8/19/2017 11:42:48 am
Miranda -- oh good idea! Although...I'm not sure I could make a lot from this book. BHH would be about it as I feel like the rest of the book was just proving some philosophies about how we teach or why/how the things we do is helpful or disruptive to our students.
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Jenn Ramage
8/25/2017 06:13:44 pm
This is a wonderful idea! I would love to see what everyone in this group does "in action" rather than in typed words. I'm sure it would be an unparalleled bank of resources!
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Kelly Cummings
8/16/2017 03:28:09 pm
I am excited to start the school year tomorrow. I am excited to use BHH framework this year, adding it to the Notice and Note framework I am already doing. What a great book that has disrupted my thinking.
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Barb Gall
8/20/2017 10:21:21 am
I love that line from the book and I think it is a great way to sum up my teaching philosophy. I also plan to incorporate conversations in my classroom more often. Jen Seravallo's Reading Strategies book is a great resource to use whole group and in conferences to lift the level of talk in your classroom. I highly recommend you check it out if you are unfamiliar.
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8/16/2017 04:53:39 pm
This book has disrupted my thinking about how I can make reading more meaningful for my students.
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Jenn R
8/25/2017 06:11:48 pm
I totally agree, Debbie. We could do a lot for our kids if everyone in our building would read this and incorporate the strategies in instruction. I keep telling Katie she needs to read it! Maybe I'll suggest it to Chuck as a #growthmindset project.
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Jennie Joseph
8/19/2017 11:46:26 am
Dare I say it...this book wasn't as "disruptive" as I was hoping it would be. It certainly questioned some of the things I do (like read alouds) but I didn't see a lot of recent research to support some of their opinions. The BHH was the only teaching tool. HOWEVER, I am talking to other teachers I work with about the idea of not killing reading by assigning tons of questions or a culminating project.
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Barb Gall
8/20/2017 10:16:43 am
This book was a great read for me this summer. I feel like I have grown as a reading teacher because of it. One of the biggest ways my thinking has been disrupted is in thinking about my students as compassionate, responsive, and responsible readers. I love this school of thought and I think that if we teach kids to be all of these, our world has the potential to change. I plan to utilize the BHH Framework in my teaching this year, and I hope that in doing so I am able to awaken within my students a newfound, purposeful love of reading. I am also hopeful that conversations in my classroom will continue to evolve as the framework is used. Thanks for all the great conversations here!
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Katy Flynn
8/22/2017 09:59:29 am
While some of this book led me to question how I can better integrate reading so that I could then disrupt, other parts forced me to disrupt my own reading and the way I think about reading. It brought back good memories and some not-so-good ones, but I think ultimately I might actually be a more reflective reader. I've begun to think about how even the silliest of “cozy mystery” novels or a gripping psychological thriller have changed me; I'm not necessarily looking for life altering reads when looking for entertainment, but I have come to acknowledge that I can be “changed” in the simplest of reading. Thinking back to the experiences I have of reading children's books with my grandparents and the memories that reading the same stories evoke indicate that I have been able to connect with reading and text on an extremely personal level and as an educator I want to foster similar experiences and opportunities for my students. This book also provided good examples of various strategies, which gives me the confidence I may be able to try some of these. I’m looking forward to attempting to implement select ideas in my room this year.
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Kate Simons
8/22/2017 08:47:10 pm
My thinking has been disrupted and I cannot wait to implement some changes in my classroom!
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Jenn Ramage
8/25/2017 06:09:19 pm
Although I teach primarily informational text, I enjoyed reading this book because I am reconsidering how I can help my students successfully engage in the material. I have used various methods for ensuring they've read their assignments in the past, but I really like the idea of silent reading to start each class. The kids can get on track, be ready for the lesson to come after their reading, and I can conference with a few kids during that time. It will be a learning curve, but I'm hopeful it will be a good fit for everyone. Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of allowing much choice when it comes to reading, but I can encourage kids to explore personal interests in science and technology through articles in newspapers, journals, and websites. Anything to get them reading more informational text will be a win!
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