For Educators of Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties.
  • Innovative Teaching
  • About
  • Contact
  • CABOCES.ORG/iss
  • Calendar of Events
  • AdvancingSTEM

Innovative Teaching

For Educators of Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties
Subscribe to our Monthly Brief

WHAT CAN LEARNING RESOURCES DO FOR YOU?

4/29/2020

0 Comments

 
With the pause created by the Covid 19 pandemic, the Learning Resources department is, now more than ever, responsive to our districts needs. 
  • We’ve created a universal log in and password so that teachers, parents, and students can get unlimited access to our resources. The username is caboces2020 and the password is caboces.
  • We put together a resources booklet, outlining each of the Learning Resources CoSers, and how they can help teachers teach remotely. The link is https://s1.caboces.org/iss/PUBLIC/20/03/23/10/23/CABOCES%20Online%20and%20Digital%20Resources%20REVISED.pdf
  • We partnered with our Professional Development team to develop and man workshops throughout the shutdown, providing our teachers with resources, tools, and strategies to best meet their needs and the needs of our students.
  • We reached out to our partners at Castle Learning to provide free access to their Health and Physical Education content. ​
​If you or your teachers need more information or training on any of these products, please feel free to reach out to us directly. We are here to serve you and be your Essential Partner.
Picture
By: Alex Free, CA BOCES Learning Resources
0 Comments

At Home Rube Goldberg Machine

4/29/2020

0 Comments

 
Challenge
Are you stuck at home and looking for something fun, easy, and science to do? I’m a big fan of Rube Goldberg machines and think this might be something to tie fun, easy, and science all together!
What is a Rube Goldberg machine though? Let’s start with Rube Goldberg, himself. He was an American Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, sculptor, author, engineer, and inventor, and his work is a classic example of the melding of art and science. Goldberg began his career as an engineer, and later became a cartoonist who drew elaborate illustrations of contraptions made up of pulleys, cups, birds, balloons, and watering cans that were designed to solve a simple task such as opening a window or setting an alarm clock. Interestingly, Goldberg only drew the pictures, and never built any of his inventions. However, these pictures have since served as inspiration for makers and builders who want the challenge of making wild inventions to solve everyday problems. 
So, that is your challenge for today. Can you build a Rube Goldberg machine to solve a simple problem? Maybe you want to turn on a fan, pour a glass of water, knock over an item, catch something, turn on a light, pop a balloon, ring a bell etc.! The possibilities are endless.
​

For this challenge, there is no criteria or constraints. Use your creativity, ideas, thinking, and materials to create your own contraption!
Materials
  • anything at home will work, but here are some useful/common items
  • dominoes
  • craft sticks
  • toy cars
  • wooden blocks
  • car tracks
  • any type of balls
  • string
  • tape
  • cardboard tubes
  • cups
Hints and Tips for Success
  1. Watch some Rube Goldberg videos to get inspired and imagine the possibilities. OK Go is notorious for their amazingly-complicated designs.  https://youtu.be/qybUFnY7Y8w
  2. Decide which problem you would like to solve. Sample problems are listed above but don't limit yourself!
  3. Gather your supplies and lay them out so they're easily seen. Start with the basics and then search your home for more supplies as you start to tinker. This list might help you find helpful items https://tinkerlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Rube-Goldberg-Activity-List.pdf
  4. Start building your machine! Experiment with the basic ideas of the chain reaction. Anything that tips something else over (and so on)!
  5. Build one part at a time and keep adding on.
  6. Do not be afraid of failure! As you test and try out different set-ups, you will probably fail a few times. But, this is great news! Failure is an excellent piece of the invention process. Without mistakes, you won't learn so celebrate it as part of the learning process!
By: Clay Nolan, CA BOCES Learning Resources
0 Comments

Growing Leaders at Friendship Central School

4/15/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture

When I took this photo, I had no idea that school would be closed and the world would be suffering a pandemic. My thoughts were centered on capturing the vision of growing leaders that Friendship Central School strives to achieve.  The district believes that each person involved in the school has unique gifts and talents.  Teachers, students, staff members and the school community have many opportunities to use their talents and grow into the person they are meant to become.  In my mind, that’s the mission of education and it happens by becoming a lifelong learner. 

​Throughout this pandemic, I have had the unique opportunity to watch teachers transform their teaching from a face to face environment where daily interactions with students are the norm to a virtual and remote world.  The challenges of living in a rural area where internet and cell service are often labeled “unstable” or “not available” can be overwhelming.  However, future leaders saw this an opportunity for growth.
Picture
At Friendship Central School, teachers model a life of caring for others and giving of self to better the world.  They demonstrate this value on a daily basis evidenced in classroom communities.  Students are taught to give a little piece of their heart each day because it brings joy to self and others.  Now, in the uncertainty of a crisis, Lindsey Weaver, Kindergarten teacher at Friendship, continues to model selfless service by growing her knowledge and sharing it with others. 
​
In the district, Lindsey was instrumental in showing teachers the possibilities available when moving to an online platform.  Leadership is about being brave and taking risks when faced with a challenge.  Friendship Central School allows each member the opportunity to take a risk by creating a safe environment where risk-taking is valued.  Lindsey’s willingness to be vulnerable during a crisis gave many other teachers the courage to try new ways of communicating with students and families.  In just a few short weeks, Lindsey presented ideas to the Cattaraugus-Allegany region as well as in specific local districts.  She has inspired joy and creativity between teachers, students, and families. 
Even though we are in unprecedented times, Friendship Central School is still truly a place where its members are invited to learn and grow.  All it takes is the courage to move in that direction.  

By: Michelle Rickicki, CA BOCES Professional Development
0 Comments

Encoding vocabulary with Zoom's help

4/3/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
"Far too many students come to school with small vocabularies. This is a big deal: the size of a child's vocabulary is an accurate predictor of academic achievement and even upward mobility over the course of a lifetime (Hirsch, 2013)." - 101 Strategies to make Academic Vocabulary Stick.
​

March left districts tackling unprecedented times as they worked to transition from  classroom environments to creating work packets and delivering instruction online. As  teachers navigate this unknown territory, this article means to highlight three ways to  incorporate vocabulary instruction utilizing the video conferencing tool Zoom. While  determining which vocabulary to focus on keep in mind the following information, according to  the New York State Education Department principles of effective vocabulary instruction  include:   
  • Use of content-based, thematic unites of study that include rich text.
  • Choosing a small set of academic vocabulary words to teach.
  • Using multiple modalities, formats and methods.
  • Unlocking language by developing word-learning strategies.
  • Organizing thematic units within an instructional cycle.

In 101 Strategies to Make Academic Vocabulary Stick, Sprenger speaks to the three  stages of the Memory Process. The stages include Encoding, Storage and Retrieval. Encoding  is the first stage of building long term memory and the author notes that vocabulary  instruction at this stage is meant to pique the students interest, motivate and engage them.  Here are three strategies (adapted from ​101 Strategies to make Academic Vocabulary Stick)   that focus on the Encoding process and can be incorporated within a Zoom session.  

Encoding Strategies:
    ● Story Impressions
○ This is a pre-reading activity meant to spark curiosity. This  will make reading the upcoming content more meaningful and  help students with comprehension. 
○ Choose keywords from a story or chapter, keeping them in  the same order in which they appear.   
○ Provide the list visually (word doc, whiteboard, etc.) for  students by sharing your screen during a zoom lesson. 
○ Go over brief definitions/descriptions and then either whole  group, small group (breakout sessions) or individually have students use the  words in a made-up story with a beginning, middle and end. 

Picture
● Word Up 
○ This strategy helps students hone in on their  listening skills and highlight important vocabulary.   
○ Zoom participants would be placed in Gallery View, so  everyone could be seen at the same time (think Brady  Bunch).   
○ Identify 1-2 words you would like students to write  separately on a piece of paper or an index card.   
​○ While you are reading aloud, whenever the students  hear the appropriate word they would lift the paper  or index card.  ​

● Word Expert Cards 
○ Before beginning new content, create a vocabulary list, including the page  number where each word appears or online resources for them to access.   
○ Divide your class so that there are 3-4 students in a group.   
○ Give each group 2-3 vocabulary words. Students in each group are responsible  for learning those words and then teaching them to the other groups.   
○ Using the breakout group feature, have students with the same words discuss  the best student created definition, its part of speech, the sentence from the  text where it appears, illustration, and a made-up sentence by the group. 
○ Move from group to group to check on accuracy. Then switch breakout groups  and have those ‘word experts’ teach their words to other members of the class  that had different words.   
○ This will take planning ahead to determine the best breakout groups and  movement by the teacher throughout the groups to encourage participation and  on-task behavior. 

Let's work together to help increase our students' vocabulary and ultimately have a positive impact on 'academic achievement and upward mobility over the course of a lifetime.'

For additional vocabulary strategies or questions, please reach out to jessica_rose@caboces.org or tessa_levitt@caboces.org.

By: Jessica Rose, CA BOCES Professional Development

Resources: 
Hallmark 4 of Advanced Literacies Instruction: Academic Vocabulary and Langauge 
http://www.nysed.gov/common/nysed/files/nov-8-nys_brief-6-of-8_-summer-2017_-hallmark-4-vocab _final_2.pdf-a.pdf  

Sprenger, M. (2017) 101 Strategies to make Academic Vocabulary Stick. ASCD
 
0 Comments

    Follow us on
    ​social media

    Want to attend a professional development session offered by Instructional Support Services?  Click here to review our catalog of professional development offerings.  
    Need 24/7 access to digital classroom resources?
    Click here to access "no charge" digital resources for you and your students.

    Categories

    All
    1:1
    7 Habits
    AdvancingSTEM
    Akom
    Allegany County
    Allegany Limestone
    Alternate Assessment
    Andover
    Angela Stockman
    Anti Bullying
    Anti-bullying
    Anxiety
    APPR
    Art
    Arts
    Arts In Education
    Artspower
    Arts Power
    Assessments
    Audiobooks
    Belfast
    Benchmarks
    Blended Learning
    Bolivar Richburg
    Book Study
    BPO
    Brain Based
    Breakout EDU
    Ca Boces
    Canva
    Career Day
    Career Resources
    Castle Learning
    CA Today
    Cattaraugus Little Valley
    Clc
    CLC (collaborative Learning Community)
    Coding
    Collaborative Project
    Common Core
    Community And Schools Together
    Community Schools
    Community Schools Service Showcase
    Community & Schools Together Conference
    Cooperative Learning
    Co-teaching
    Credit Recovery
    CRSE
    Cte
    Cuba Rushford
    Cuba-Rushford
    Curriculum Modules
    Dasa
    Data
    Dave Ruch
    Delevan Elementary
    Distance
    Distance Learning
    Diversity
    Drone
    Drones
    Dyslexia
    Early Childhood
    Ebooks
    Ela
    ELA CLC
    ELA Learning Standards
    Ellicottville
    Environmental Education
    Eresources
    Esl
    Esports
    Family Engagement
    Field Trips
    Field Trip Zoom
    Fillmore
    Film Festival
    Flipgrid
    Fossils
    Franklinville
    French
    Friendship
    Game Based Learning
    Game-based Learning
    Genesee Valley
    Global History
    Global Studies
    Grit
    Growth Mindset
    Health
    Hinsdale
    Houghton College
    Innovation
    Instruction
    Ipad
    Khan Academy
    Kimberly Morrow
    Kits
    Language Line
    Leadership
    Learning Resources
    Lego League
    Library
    Literacy
    Maker
    Math
    Math Modules
    Matt Miller
    Media
    Mental Health
    Microsoft
    Microsoft 365
    Microsoft Teams
    Minecraft Education
    Model Schools
    Moodle
    Moodle/Mahara
    Music
    Nerdle
    Newsbank
    New Teacher Academy
    Next Generation Science
    Odyssey Of The Mind
    Olean
    Online Class
    Osmo
    Overdrive
    Padlet
    Parents
    Parent University
    PBL
    PE
    Physical Education
    Pioneer
    Pioneer Central School
    Pixar In A Box
    Play
    Portville
    Poverty Simulation
    Power Apps
    Power Automate
    Power Teaching
    Pre K
    Pre-K
    Professional Development
    Randolph
    Randolph Academy
    Reading
    Regents
    Regents Exam
    Remote Learning
    Resilience
    Restorative Circles
    Restorative Practice
    Rocket League
    Salamanca
    Scholastic Challenge
    School Library
    Schoology
    Scio
    Seesaw
    Sel
    Self Care
    Sharepoint
    SLO's
    SNAP
    Social Emotional
    Social Emotional Learning
    Social-emotional Learning
    Social Studies
    Sora
    Spanish
    Special Education
    Standards
    Star Lab
    Stem
    STEM Challenge
    Student
    Student Programming
    Student Programs
    Summer School
    Summer Tech Camp
    Tcif
    Teacher Academy
    TeachingBooks
    Teach Like A Champion
    Technology
    TheaterWorks USA
    Theatre
    The Mailbox
    TITC
    Trauma
    TRLE
    Vex
    Virtual Field Trip
    Virtual Scholastic Challenge
    Wellsville
    West Valley
    Whitesville
    Why Try
    Writing
    Zoom
    Zulama

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Innovative Teaching
  • About
  • Contact
  • CABOCES.ORG/iss
  • Calendar of Events
  • AdvancingSTEM