Welcome teachers, to a place where you can actually teach without worrying about creating your curriculum. It is all there for you. The lesson plan, the worksheets, the extra work for struggling learners, the textbooks, the learning activities, and even the teacher training.
Why? Because the school is opening up as a Direct Instruction (DI) curriculum charter school. Apparently the only other DI school in the district received "National Blue Ribbon School" status.
FREE DOWNLOAD OF FUNNIX BEGINNING MATH
JUNE 1 – JUNE 26
Funnix Beginning Math is a 100-lesson computer program designed for children who have not learned beginning math operations.
Funnix Beginning Math will be available as a free download from June 1 through June 24. All components of Funnix Beginning Math are included in the download—100 animated computer-based lessons, workbook material, a teaching guide, and a placement test for assessing the child.
I purchased a used SRA Corrective Reading Decoding A kit many years ago. Being a Direct Instruction curriculum junkie, I thought this was a wise investment. Thing is - I didn't understand how SRA labeled its curriculum kits - what is the difference between Decoding A and Comprehension A? Why is there a B1 and B2 kit? What is Decoding A anyways?
"When he reviewed studies of learning styles, he found no scientific evidence backing up the idea. "We have not found evidence from a randomized control trial supporting any of these," he says, "and until such evidence exists, we don't recommend that they be used."
Willingham suggests it might be more useful to figure out similarities in how our brains learn, rather than differences. "
"The researchers’ review highlighted a conflict in the current approaches to early science schooling. Educators on one side argue for a more hands-off methodology. They claim that preschoolers go through a natural flow in scientific cognitive development — a flow that should not be interrupted by explicit teaching. Another approach stresses exactly the opposite philosophy — that, essentially, early intervention via direct instruction can help children develop a rudimentary understanding of the complex concepts involved in scientific reasoning."
Written by Shep Barbash and commissioned by Education Consumers, Clear Teaching is a short manual on Direct Instruction and Zig Engelmann. On the page are links to other documents such as a trainers list and various other DI resources.
"'The State of State Science Standards,' a Thomas B. Fordham Institute report, ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia with grades on an A to F scale. California and Washington, D.C., received the only two A's."
"The report identifies four areas where science standards are flawed... Science educators, curriculum developers and standard writers have focused excessive attention on "inquiry-based learning" — attempting to help students learn through "discovery" instead of direct instruction of specific content."
Understanding U.S. History is a two part textbook series that teaches students a general strategy for analyzing historical events, processes, and periods by analyzing the problem-solution-effect. The strategy is then applied to U.S. history using original materials. The program contains concept maps and interspersed questions (to foster higher-order thinking) and a variety of writing projects.
Welcome to Teaching Utopia
Welcome teachers, to a place where you can actually teach without worrying about creating your curriculum. It is all there for you. The lesson plan, the worksheets, the extra work for struggling learners, the textbooks, the learning activities, and even the teacher training.
Parents Camp Out to Enroll in Direct Instruction Charter School
Although camping out to enroll your child in a charter school can be avoided with lotteries, these parents tented for one day outside in cold.
http://www.greeleygazette.com/press/?p=9328
Why? Because the school is opening up as a Direct Instruction (DI) curriculum charter school. Apparently the only other DI school in the district received "National Blue Ribbon School" status.
Free FUNNIX Beginning Math Software Download in June
FREE DOWNLOAD OF FUNNIX BEGINNING MATH
JUNE 1 – JUNE 26
Funnix Beginning Math is a 100-lesson computer program designed for children who have not learned beginning math operations.
Funnix Beginning Math will be available as a free download from June 1 through June 24. All components of Funnix Beginning Math are included in the download—100 animated computer-based lessons, workbook material, a teaching guide, and a placement test for assessing the child.
SRA Corrective Reading Decoding A
I purchased a used SRA Corrective Reading Decoding A kit many years ago. Being a Direct Instruction curriculum junkie, I thought this was a wise investment. Thing is - I didn't understand how SRA labeled its curriculum kits - what is the difference between Decoding A and Comprehension A? Why is there a B1 and B2 kit? What is Decoding A anyways?
Think You're An Auditory Or Visual Learner? Scientists Say It's Unlikely
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/08/29/139973743/think-youre-an-audi...
"When he reviewed studies of learning styles, he found no scientific evidence backing up the idea. "We have not found evidence from a randomized control trial supporting any of these," he says, "and until such evidence exists, we don't recommend that they be used."
Willingham suggests it might be more useful to figure out similarities in how our brains learn, rather than differences. "
Research tests learning styles
http://thetartan.org/2011/8/29/scitech/psych
"The researchers’ review highlighted a conflict in the current approaches to early science schooling. Educators on one side argue for a more hands-off methodology. They claim that preschoolers go through a natural flow in scientific cognitive development — a flow that should not be interrupted by explicit teaching. Another approach stresses exactly the opposite philosophy — that, essentially, early intervention via direct instruction can help children develop a rudimentary understanding of the complex concepts involved in scientific reasoning."
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
The Corvallis School District has put out a short FAQ on Section 504 of the Disabilities Act.
Microsoft .doc format
http://www.csd509j.net/district_information/departments_and_services/spe...
If you can't read it in above format, see the attachment in PDF.
Free Direct Instruction Book
For a free and readable book on Direct Instruction, go to:
http://education-consumers.org/ClearTeaching.htm
Written by Shep Barbash and commissioned by Education Consumers, Clear Teaching is a short manual on Direct Instruction and Zig Engelmann. On the page are links to other documents such as a trainers list and various other DI resources.
Science Standards Flawed with Inquiry Based Learning
"'The State of State Science Standards,' a Thomas B. Fordham Institute report, ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia with grades on an A to F scale. California and Washington, D.C., received the only two A's."
"The report identifies four areas where science standards are flawed... Science educators, curriculum developers and standard writers have focused excessive attention on "inquiry-based learning" — attempting to help students learn through "discovery" instead of direct instruction of specific content."
Direct Instruction Reading Textbooks
Understanding U.S. History is a two part textbook series that teaches students a general strategy for analyzing historical events, processes, and periods by analyzing the problem-solution-effect. The strategy is then applied to U.S. history using original materials. The program contains concept maps and interspersed questions (to foster higher-order thinking) and a variety of writing projects.