The Sequoia – Online – Homeschool English staff are focused on creating rich opportunities for students to engage in text, research and literature. In our courses and throughout our school, we are developing lessons to assist students in writing with greater skill and clarity. In our partnerships within and between programs, we are establishing richer course offerings, increasing course rigor and focusing assessments on capturing students’ strengths and challenges. Since many of our students are successful with the state assessment, we have integrated within our courses an element of assessment literacy coaching that we hope will prepare our students for college entry and placement examinations.
Our fast-paced, but close quarters, culture has allowed for regular collaboration among our staff. We have met throughout the year to coordinate course offerings, align to district calendars and integrate new novel adoptions. Partnering has led to revised and shared curriculum and powerful team teaching. One highlight has been our special education instructor’s partnership with our Read 180 teacher. Maureen Malley, a special education teacher, shares not only her experience with teaming in the classroom but the power of our Professional Learning Community (PLC) working with collaborative scoring, standards-focused course design and sharing of student work.
For the last few terms, Neelz and I have increased our collaboration for students in reading support, and have done some team teaching. The entire class has benefitted from increased adult support, not just the special education students.
I have benefitted greatly this year from being folded into the Literacy PLC at Sequoia. I have used the general education curriculum scope and sequence to tailor units in my modified writing class, and I have used the collaboration to increase success for students who are enrolled in general education English classes. Units and mini-lessons taught so far this year in modified writing have included: vocabulary of the 4-strand checklist, peer editing, the elements of expository writing, the elements of persuasive writing, poetic devices, summarizing, prewriting, organizing, timed writing, the elements of introductions and conclusions, business writing and conventions.
- Maureen Malley