The 16 Week Challenge: Week 3

 

Welcome to week 3 of our Fall 2024 16 Week Teaching Challenge!

Is this your first time checking in? No problem. Take a minute and read The Big Launch post here. You can also get caught up on weeks 1 and 2 by scrolling to the "Labels" section at the bottom right of this page and clicking "The 16 Week Challenge," but you're welcome to just jump right into week 3 if you prefer. 

If I were to choose only one thing to improve my craft as a teacher, checking for understanding would be at the top of the list. It's that important. So, here's this week's challenge!

Week 3: Aug. 26 - Learn about Checking for Understanding

1. Begin by reading (or reading) EL's 8 High-Leverage Instructional Practices, and read the row for checking for understanding most closely.
2. Next, read this excerpt from the chapter on checking from understanding from Teach Like a Champion.
3. Then, read this document from EL about checking for understanding. On page 2, consider which of the tools and protocols would help you check for academic understanding, and which are self report. Both can be important, but only the academic ones will help us know whether students are understanding what they need to.

Last, choose one (or more if you want) of these videos to see checking for understanding in action:

• Scott Wells: Grade 4 ELA
• Matthew Gray: middle school ELA
• Denarius Frazier: Grade 11 math
• Courtney Huber: Grade 4 ELA

Completed those 4 tasks? Phenomenal! You just completed your Week 3 Learning Challenge. If you want (and you want to qualify for that lovely little prize I mentioned in the Launch), you can log your success here, and be sure to check back next week - September 2 - for Week 4!

P.S. Missed a week and want to get caught up? You absolutely can. Just go back, complete those challenges, log your success, and join us again next week!

Here's to simply teaching well,