This week I worked with kind, caring K-2 teachers from Tennessee. Dyersburg is in farm country about 3 hours driving time from Nashville. We drove past cotton fields and saw lots of soybeans too, on the way there. In the evening, we enjoyed cool temperatures as we strolled past a historic monument and restored buildings. On the way home, we flew on a 9-seat Cessna back to Nashville to save driving time. Smooth ride on Tennessee Air!
I look forward to ongoing work in this part of the world. The teachers I met care deeply about their children and doing the best they can to help them achieve. They were warm, friendly, and fun. As part of our work together, we studied the power of developing “I Can” lists with students to give them ownership for their work at literacy stations. We made some together to experience the process and the thinking behind them. One of my favorite moments was when we were working in grade level teams brainstorming ideas of what children might do at a poetry station. A 2nd grade teacher pulled out her iPhone and looked up the state standards to be sure they were including meaningful independent practice linked to standards. Now that’s 21st century teaching!
Sample “I Can” list for an observation station in 2nd grade
A 2nd grade teacher consults an iPhone to check state standards to include at poetry station practice
First grade teachers brainstorm ideas that might go on an “I Can” list for poetry
Kindergarten teachers think about what kids might try at a poetry station
Downtown statue in Dyersburg, TN
Downtown drug store in Dyersburg
Debbie Diller 