Our Present Pursuits: The Six Instructional Strategies: A Framework for all "Veteran Edition"

Please make sure that you are on the correct blog.  This is for faculty and staff with five years or more at an early college. 

As you are aware, one of our signature elements at Cross Creek is the use of a common instructional framework.  While it was originally labeled the "CIF" and later as the "Aligned Instructional Strategies,"  the overall premise was (and continues to be) the faculty and staff share a common framework/language that guides the school's instructional methodology.  

For some of us, the use of the early college instructional framework as the guiding principle of practice has been in use for so long, it's innate. But for a few moments, step back to the past and think about your other teaching positions at the traditional high school.  If you were employed at a CCS school perhaps you experienced the "Creating Great Classrooms" training.  (Editor's note: I loved it because it was my first exposure to a research-backed "plan" of teaching) To a degree, there was "commonality" of language, implementation, and practice.  However, there were problems of sustainability when the PD ended and new hires did not receive the training.  What does the common instructional language, if any, at a traditional high school look like in 2018? 

Our framework provides structure for the inherently unique early college setting and  promotes sustainability through expectations of use by all faculty.  Cross Creek opened in 2005 and, for the most part, the framework within our school has remained stable.  What role does the veteran teacher play in promoting the framework to new hires so that the common language, plan, and purpose continue? 

For a refresher and rationale reminder on the JFF Common Instructional Framework, click on this Edutopia article "Six Strategies" button to the right. 

For the current Cross Creek "Instructional Strategies Guide" click on "Strategies Guide" button to the right. 

We will be using a presentation tech tool Emaze for this assignment.  If you are not familiar with the tool- explore, have fun, and get creative! 

For a quick introduction and instruction video, click on the "Emaze Intro" button to the right.  
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For instructions on your assignment, click on the "Assignment" button to the right. It's a good example of a basic Emaze presentation. (I also have the instructions in written form below.)

To sign up (free!) and create, click on EMAZE.  


Veteran EMAZE Presentation Instructions- Aligned Instructional Strategies
 
For this assignment, you will complete a presentation using EMAZE. The objective is for you to create an (up to seven slide) EMAZE presentation and share what you know about the assigned strategy. Limit the presentation portion to 5 minutes. (Suggestion- the presentation can include a short description, rationale, and example protocol(s) that support the strategy.) Your first slide should have a title with your name and the rest is up to you.
 
See my Emaze "Assignment" presentation as an example sample.
   
1. Assigned strategies:
 
     Shields: Overview of the six strategies (general overview of the six is just fine)
     Hasapis:  Collaboration for Learning
     Huffman: Discussion for Learning
     McGinnis: Reading for Learning
     Merritt: Writing for Learning
     Hosking: Feedback for Learning
     Rivera: Questioning for Learning 
    
 2. The presentation should be no longer than 7 slides, 5 minutes as you will be giving your Emaze presentation to colleagues on January 22nd at the faculty meeting.
 
 3. Be prepared to comment on how you could/would use EMAZE in the classroom OR specific examples or suggestions on how your students could use it.
 
 
Feel free to contact me with questions.