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Wooden Alphabet Letters

Challenge

Watch the 1-minute and 32-second video below to meet Ms. Smith and Liz. Pay close attention to what Liz is able and unable to do.  Consider the strengths and weaknesses Liz demonstrates as an 8th-grade student. After you watch, you will answer the questions listed below the video. You will return to the Challenge questions at the end of the PLM. 

Transcript Meet Ms. Smith. She is a 23 year veteran Language Arts teacher and she teaches 8th grade at Washington Middle School. Meet Liz. She is a student in Ms. Smith’s 2nd period language arts class. She is outgoing, answers questions during class, and is very liked by her peers. Ms. Smith has noticed that although Liz participates during class discussions she is still failing the course. Liz likes to volunteer to read aloud in class. She struggles with unfamiliar words and her reading is slow and robotic. Liz is performing below average on tests, quizzes, and other written work. Ms. Smith has determined from looking at Liz’s work that she is not comprehending what she reads. Ms. Smith remembered what she learned from professional developments on comprehension. She has worked with Liz on how to find main idea, making inferences, and vocabulary strategies. None of these interventions have worked to help Liz improve her grades. Both Ms. Smith and Liz are beginning to feel frustrated, inadequate, and helpless. What advice would you give to Ms. Smith to help Liz?


Based on the video and your experience with teaching reading, type your answers to the following questions in your Guided Notes.

1. What advice would you give to Ms. Smith to help Liz?

2. How do the perspectives of the teacher and the student impact learning?

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