Keeping WV teachers updated with emergent technology Vol.1,No.5
TALK NERDY TO ME
Keeping “on Top” in Hancock County-
b y
K a t h y
G r i f f i t h
Three years ago, Weir Middle School data. (Hancock County) became a PDS (Professional The team was Development School). This Bethany College/ honored to be asked Hancock County RTI-PDS partnership was one to present at the of three such PDS partnerships funded by the National PDS WVDE to develop models for implementing RTI Conference in New Orleans in March 2010! And (now known as Support for Personalized to think, it all started with just a handful of Learning “SPL” in WV schools.) educators with a dream and a willingness to come We rolled up our sleeves! Of course, together to create something truly amazing! there was no manual; we were “building the Bringing you up to speed: WMS plane in the air.” The team consisted of two continues to deliver the RTI initiative today. The administrators, a college liaison, and three RTI teacher interventionists (yes, I was one of them). PLC room continues to be used as a meeting place for grade level PLCs, and Student Led Grant funding allowed for the purchase of Conferences are now replacing Open House. assessment materials, RTI tiers were assigned, Currently, WMS students have been busily intervention software was purchased, an RTI computer lab was created, and college students preparing for this event as they learn to take regularly assisted. Other counties, along with the charge of their own learning. state department, began to take notice and sent Be sure to check out our New Orleans representatives to learn from us. powerpoint for more details! : http://bit.ly/ SGmnDb At the same time that RTI was progressing, a PLC room was created, complete with a central round table, shelves with slots for each student where a data folder was kept, and several laptops, etc. It is in this room that teachers/students/parents could gather each day. Student Led Conferences were initiated in the 5th grade. Finally, students were able to take charge of their own learning and confidently explain their progress (or lack of progress) to their parents. Data folders were compiled as students became familiar with their own personal WEb2.0 Monthly Pick– Scootpad-by
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