Using Mini Lessons to Teach Common Core

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Answer

Absolutely.  Always talk to the principal before doing in-class mini lessons.  Share your information with the principal.  For example, share the common core standards for the lessons you are going to be doing to show the benefit for your students.  The principal will most-likely have three questions for you: “Why do you want to go into the Gen. Ed. room?” “What are you going to do there?”, and “How is that going to impact your students?”  You can explain that the mini-lessons will help the students because you are creating strategies that will be shared across the building.  How are you going to do it? Show the principal the mini lesson schedule.  The principal will most-likely agree to doing the mini lessons as long as it does not cost more money or require your principal to do something.  

Jennifer Preschern holds a dual masters degree in Speech Language Pathology and Learning Disabilities from Northwestern University. She also holds a school administration certification from Loyola University.  Her professional expertise is putting language/literacy research into practical application for linguistically and socioeconomically diverse public school settings.