CREDE

Being a Science teacher, I am in a position to construct activities that meet CREDE standards on a pretty regular basis. I try to do at least one lab every week or so. The lab environment usually calls for using collaborative groups and encourages dialogue. I think I could probably do a better job of LISTENING! As I contemplate my actions during lab times I am coming to realize that I move at a pretty frenetic pace moving from group to group... answering questions, clearing up misconceptions, reassuring students that they are doing it "right," fixing equipment... tons of action but am I listening to dialogue between the students????? Maybe not so much. I blink and its time for them to leave.

Another thing I need to pay more attention to... Groupings! If I let them group themselves or pick their partners, they flock to their own cultural groups. I need to intervene and force a little more interaction.

I am good at showing my ELLs respect (Garcia's first R). I praise the fact that they can speak and think in TWO languages. We talk about the differences in the language of the Spanish speakers from El Salvador, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. They got into an interesting discussion this week about the word "tea kettle" which was in a scenario I had given them about phase changes. The kids from PR didn't know what it was and one of the girls from ES was explaining it to them in Spanish... they were listening intently and both their faces lit up at the same time when they got it... she must have said a word that "clicked" for them. It makes me want to learn Spanish!