Director of Teaching & Learning Miles Azzeh's Academic Spotlight: Shelly Hailey
Our Lansing USD 469 teachers are incredible at engaging our students in fantastic learning opportunities to reach their full potential every day in our district. To highlight and bring recognition to this great work, Director of Teaching and Learning Miles Azzeh will be regularly shining a spotlight on a stand-out teacher through "academic spotlights."
I had a wonderful time visiting Mrs. Shelly Hailey for this week's academic spotlight! The students were using an annotation/comprehension strategy that Mrs. Hailey has been using for the last twelve years known as UNRAAVEL:
- U – Underline the Question.
- N – Now Predict - what you think you need to do to solve the problem.
- R – Read the Word Problem.
- A – Are the important words circled?
- A – Apply the step(s) you chose to solve the problem.
- V – Verify your answer.
- E – Eliminate any Wrong Answers.
- L – Let the Answer Stay or Rework the Problem.
"In 5th grade, UNRAAVEL is used during short and long reading comprehensive passages. This strategy and its parts are used in math, science, and social studies. Using UNRAAVEL and its strategies in my classroom over the last 12 years has made me a better teacher and learner." said Mrs. Hailey.
Before I jump into the activity and learning, I'd like to commend Mrs. Hailey and her students for their exemplary behavior and engagement during class. I have been around A LOT of 5th-grade students (including my own at home - Hi Max!), and these kids were focused, on task, and amazing. Great job, everyone!
Mrs. Hailey did a splendid job modeling the strategy for the students as they read a passage on auto racing. I was impressed with the answers students were giving and how she constantly called on random students to ensure she was checking for understanding with everyone, not just a select few. Great job, Shelly!
"Using UNRAAVEL gives students the confidence needed to take on reading passages in a positive manner. Using this strategy has helped my students stay focused and organized on their work. UNRAAVEL holds students accountable for their finished passage. This means a question has to have a numbered paragraph included, or it is not correct, and the paragraph proves its validity. Doing this holds the student accountable for their answer." said Mrs. Hailey.
Mrs. Hailey is correct regarding the accountability and rigor of the activity; students were answering using text evidence and constantly referring to the passage when answering questions. Many of the students' responses to their views on the activity proved how valuable the strategy is:
"UNRAAVEL makes me a better reader, and I pay attention better."
"It forces us to reread."
"If we are confused, we reread."
"I get the questions correct by eliminating the answers."
"I understand the story more."
I was blown away by the instruction, work ethic, and engagement I saw in Mrs. Hailey's class. Above all, it is apparent how much she cares and challenges them each and every day.
"This class is one in a million. We have our moments, but they are pretty special. I am so proud of them. They work very hard for my high expectations. Some days I feel I am too hard on them academically, but then I see how well they are soaring. They are amazing!"