Chapter 7 DI/UbD

Chapter 7 DI/UbD~ Teaching for Understanding in Academically Diverse Classrooms.

Summary-

The first sentence was “Understanding must be earned.” (Pg. 108) I thought this was a great first sentence! Teaching for understanding is a very hard thing to do because it encompasses many things into one. They first are telling us to uncover the content which means that we need look at the lesson like an iceberg. We are going to see the top of the topic and there is still a lot that we can’t see under the water. Next we are supposed to use our essential questions to teach. We need to just make sure they are open ended enough so that the students will really walk away with the understanding. Our essential questions can serve as the “doorway” to the students understanding. They gave us some practical tips for making our essential questions and they were: “less is more, be sure they understand vocabulary, engage the students, personalize the questions, post the essential questions, and finally follow up.” (Pg. 115) They then finally introduce the six facets of understanding which are: explain, interpret, apply, perspective, empathy, and self-knowledge. Lastly they introduce WHERETO which stands for: What and Why, Hook, Equip and Experiences, Rethink, Revision and Refinement, self-Evaluation, Tailor, and finally Organized.

Reflections-

I personally loved this chapter and some of my group mates were less then enthralled with it. Luke thought it was an okay chapter but at the time was not interested in the WHERETO model. He thought it was good but just could not get into the concept. Heather on the other hand enjoyed many parts of this chapter like me. She commented on the fact she liked the “Follow-up Strategies to Deepen Student Thinking”, she is thinking she is going to refer to the chart once she has her own classroom. I personally really enjoyed the chapter and the WHERETO model.