Organization and Portfolios

Presented by Amy Sivak and Laura Stanik

*A special thanks to the teachers of Landmark School:

Deidre Mulligan and Faith Hall*

Agenda

Gallery Walk/Discussion (10 min) Overview of Research (5 min) Organization Strategies and

Techniques (20 min) Portfolios (20 min) Wrap-Up (5 min)

Gallery Walk

Take a few minutes to list some of the current strategies you use in your classroom that fall under the categories listed around the room.

Discussion of best practices will follow.

Reflect

Take some time to draw or write your current classroom organization system or what you are planning to use for the upcoming year.

How has this system changed or been adapted throughout your teaching experiences?

Research

“Students with learning and attention problems often have difficulty sorting, organizing, and prioritizing information and over focus on details while struggling to identify major themes.” (L MELTZER)

Thoughts???

Research “Adults can provide structures with schedules,

lists, prompts, and visual cues. These systems and scaffolds are eventually reduced as students begin to learn how to set goals, plan, prioritize, organize, shift approaches, and self monitor. The objective is to provide modeling & scaffolding in the hope that students will eventually internalize these strategies.” ( L MELTZER)

Thoughts???

Organization Strategies

Why Use Organization Strategies?

More time on task Every minute counts

Better quality of work Student independence

Self confidence

Organizing Materials

Visual Schedules/Expectations HBC Cards/Books Student Electronic Files Planners Homework Folders/Handouts

Organizing Time

Post Schedules Agendas/Objectives Timers Visual and Verbal Cues Calendars Homework Help

Homework Organization

Homework Organization Continued

See Homework Time Table Handout

Homework Check-Ins by phone, email or websites

Quizlet

Organization Review

Do you think you will be able to incorporate any of these organizational strategies in your classroom this year?

Portfolios

Portfolio System

Find a system that works for you:

Binders? Filing Cabinet? Crates?

Remember: Organization!

Portfolio Days Students choose something from

sections of their binders or classroom organization system

Students reflect on their own work which leads to independence

Table of Contents: Organization Shown at Parent Teacher Conferences

and IEP meetings Student Pride and Ownership

Portfolio N: Folders, Websites and CD Roms

N: - Teacher prepares folders for each student to organize their saved files

Websites – example of a great website for organizing student work

http://www.west.asu.edu/achristie/eportfolios/main.html

CD Roms/Flash Drives – students can keep a portable record of their work and reflections throughout the year and keep their work from year to year

How To Create Your Electronic Portfolio

http://www.wikispaces.com/

Click “Get Started”Fill out “Join Now” section

Start Creating!

Example:http://asivak.wikispaces.com/

Creating Electronic Portfolios Continued

www.weebly.comClick “join now”

Fill out “join now” informationStart Creating!

Example:http://7thprojectblock2009.weebly.com

Wrap Up

What are two new ideas you think you may try in your classroom this school year?

Works Cited

Hall, Faith. Presentation. 9 July 2010.

Melzer, Lynn. “The impact of effort and strategy use on academic performance: student and teacher perceptions.” Learning Disabilities Quarterly 24:2 (2001): 85-98.

Mulligan, Deirdre. Presentation. 9 July 2010.

Newhall, T. (2008). Study Skills: Research Based Teaching Strategies A Landmark School Teaching Guide. Landmark School Inc.

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**Please check out these sites for student help on works cited pages:

http://elementary.oslis.org/resources/cm/mlacitationse

www.old.oslis.org/mlacitations/secondary