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Author Archives: Beyond The Apple
Culturally Inclusive Teaching and Learning
A culturally inclusive classroom recognises that identity is complex and multi layered and encompasses race, gender and gender identity, socio-economic status, sexual identity, ethnicity, and religion.As we build culturally inclusive classrooms we need to be mindful about shifting from: – … Continue reading
Posted in Educational Change
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Rethinking Alphabet Charts
Take a look at a few alphabet charts online. Now think about the children you know—do they have the experiences or language background needed to connect each letter with the picture shown? Often, they don’t. Creating a truly “universal” alphabet … Continue reading
Close Looking: What is this?
Set the tone for learning by posting a note on the classroom door: When students enter this classroom, a wondering prompt such as an image, soundscape, or object invites them to look closely and use their senses and background knowledge … Continue reading
Re-framing conversations about disengaged students
At a recent professional learning session on re-engaging disengaged students, we asked participants to describe a disengaged learner using just a few words on a Post-it. We then placed the notes on a whiteboard. Then, as people grabbed coffee and … Continue reading
Posted in Linking Assessment to Learning
Tagged accountability, appreciatiev inquiry, disengaged students, edcuational change, feedback, formative assessment, funds of knowledge, learning potential, professional development, professional learning communities, re-engaging students, responsive learning environments
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A Student’s Self Assessment of Listening
Let’s start the conversation with Beyond the Apple’s video about teaching students how to listen: When our students sit up straight, look at the speaker, be silent, and keep hands still and visible, we assume through their posture that our … Continue reading
Posted in Linking Assessment to Learning
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Student Writing: An in-depth look at the assessment and feedback process
Let’s begins this conversation with Beyond the Apple’s video “Assessing Student Writing Through an Appreciative Lens”. This video suggests that learning to assess student writing may begin with listening to a student’s writing before seeing a student’s writing. The writing … Continue reading
Posted in Linking Assessment to Learning
Tagged analytic assessment of writing, appreciative assessment, Appreciative Inquiry, Assessing conventions, Assessing ideas, assessing student writing, assessing the traits of writing, Assessing word choice, feedback, student writing, students who struggle with writing
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Exit Slips and Feedback Revisited
Let’s face it . . . when we rely on tests to gather information about student learning, not only do students become test weary, the process of test development, marking, and providing feedback becomes the bane of any educator’s existence. … Continue reading
Writing Valid (Equitable) Assessments
A well-written test, quiz, or examination will complement the many other forms of formative assessment we use, so it’s important to know the how to’s of valid and equitable test construction. In the jargon of assessment development, test questions are … Continue reading
Using the Poems and Songs of Home Language as Anchors for Literacy Learning
The potential of using home language as an entry point to school literacy learning is an important topic for a professional learning conversation. Home language is situated in the heart of a community. The vocabulary, structures, and rhythms of one’s … Continue reading
Beyond the Apple: Reimagining teaching through professional conversations 
Meaningful Feedback in Minutes
The purpose of feedback is to: acknowledge evidence of progress search for and share evidence of “the known” within the student’s misunderstandings provide the student with a focus for the next steps of learning Here’s an example of a very … Continue reading →