3-2-1 TUESDAYS WITH MS NIV

Posted on 26 Mar 2024 by nivedita mukerjee

Issue #194, 26th March 2024

We all want success for our students and children. Right? Teachers and parents? So when you are working with your child and/or student, do you think of developing success or selecting success? How are these two different and how do they impact our approach in the classroom? What does developing success look like? what impact does selecting success have on the student?

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Three images of the week

Two Thoughts of the Week

“When I was a kid, there was no collaboration; it’s you with a camera bossing your friends around. But as an adult, filmmaking is all about appreciating the talents of the people you surround yourself with and knowing you could never have made any of these films by yourself.”

– Steven Spielberg

“Your corn is ripe today; mine will be so tomorrow. ‘Tis profitable for us both, that I should labour with you today, and that you should aid me tomorrow. I have no kindness for you, and know you have as little for me. I will not, therefore, take any pains upon your account; and should I labour with you upon my own account, in expectation of a return, I know I should be disappointed, and that I should in vain depend upon your gratitude. Here then I leave you to labour alone; You treat me in the same manner. The seasons change; and both of us lose our harvests for want of mutual confidence and security.”
― David Hume

One Video of the Week

The controversial class rank system has come up in discussion many times. However, hearing a student’s perspective on the subject is rare. High school senior Bhavana Kolla shares her thoughts on the effects of the class rank system with regard to collaboration and mental health. She will talk about what schools should do to in order to foster a healthy, cooperative environment and to bring back the collaboration that used to exist. For someone who wants to understand the growing pressures of society on the younger generation, this talk is the perfect way to uncover what the current generation truly faces. Bio: Bhavana Kolla is a senior at South Fayette High School. She is a member of the marching band, student government, and library club. Bhavana is also heavily involved in the school’s fundraising events. Additionally, she is an avid dancer and has been involved in the art form for over ten years.

Bhavana also has a love for volunteering and travelling. Being involved in the school has been a passion for Bhavana the past four years, and she hopes to advocate for the mental health of students across the country through this talk. Bhavana Kolla is a senior at South Fayette High School. She is a member of the marching band, student government, and library club. Bhavana is also heavily involved in the fundraising events the school holds. Additionally, she is an avid dancer and has been involved in the art form for over 10 years.

Guest Expert of the Week

Reading with Ms. Meenu

Collaborative Conversations:

Before we begin talking about collaborative conversations and questioning, it is important to reiterate loudly and clearly that there are many times I read aloud just for FUN! During my read-aloud I don’t stop to ask questions because it would interrupt the action in the story. Collaborative conversation is all about effective questioning techniques.

Effective questioning techniques:

· Notice and name the strategies and conversational norms students are using.

· Ask open-ended thinking questions.

· Respond to answers without non-judgemental comments.

· Scaffold students who are having difficulty articulating their thinking.

· Alert students to important events in the text.

Tips for facilitating collaborative conversations:

· Set expectations for the kid’s comment.

· Don’t spoil an engaging read aloud by asking too many questions.

· If the read-aloud warrants a lot of collaborative discussion, read it in two or three settings.

· Pay attention to your student’s level of engagement.

· Provide ample opportunity for students to have peer-to-peer conversations.

· Post the language of a collaborative conversation somewhere near your read-aloud area.

Happy Reading!

Meenu Gera

Consulting home and school librarian and reading guide.

Dear reader,
I have been a research scientist, a journalist, and an educator for over 3 decades. I read and, I write. With this weekly newsletter, I share what I read, learn, and, experience. At the same time, I engage with students, parents, and teams of teachers across K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and ed-tech organizations.

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