GAA is not RocketScience ….

1. GAA is not RocketScience…. Looking at ways to make the job easier…... Juanita Pritchard August 2011

2. It’s more like planning a big dinner…….

3. It takes good planning up front to carry it out. • Look at the calendar • Identify the guests • Choose the foods that work for the guests • Decide on the presentation – table, plates, decorations • Use the calendar to plan it out • Get everything ready ahead of time • Serve the meal & enjoy while paying attention to the guests • Clean up the mess • Go on with life

4. Schedule everything on the calendar before you start

5. Schedule it AHEAD of time • When can you start, when do you have to be done • What are you local requirements? • When the paperwork is due – back up and plan it, don’t wait until last minute

6. Schedule it AHEAD of time • Appetizer – getting ready what do they know • Meal – instruction and exposure • Dessert – meal is over, show off the best Remember – not everyone orders the same meal 3 weeks between collections (21 calendar days) primary 1 to primary 2

7. Identify the guests • Make a guest list so there are no surprises • Be sure you know what grade each student is designated in SchoolMax (not IEP).

8. Make choices that work for your guests • Food allergies, who sits next to whom, who drinks what, etc. • Pick standards & elements that work for a whole unit • Pick standards that • Show progress for your student • Use nouns & verbs that work for that student

9. Presentation • Table, plates, decorations • What kind of materials/activities work for your students • It will be different for some students – be sure to individualize • Differentiated instruction • Active participation • Generalization • PROGRESS

10. PLAN EVERYTHING AHEAD OF TIME • Map it out • First collection evidence • A variety of activities for good instruction • Multiple opportunities (repetition) • Variety of instructional activities • Generalization opportunities • Second collection evidence • Review by as many as possible • Paperwork follow-up

11. Get materials together AHEAD OF TIME • You can’t put a unit together well while you’re teaching it…. • Plan & prepare before you start • Assess and adapt as you go • Save EVERYTHING you do on the GAA standards/elements……just in case

12. Take the offers of help • Use things that have worked in the past • DOE resource board • Cobb Curriculum Guide • Support Blog • Other teachers at your instructional level • General education teachers

13. Serve the meal and your guests • Remember that instruction is all about the students • What’s working & what’s not working • What can I do to make this fun & enjoyable

14. Clean up the mess • Worst part of a dinner party is cleaning up the mess • Worst part of GAA is the paperwork of compiling the portfolio • Planning ahead will make it easier • Don’t wait until the last minute • Be open to suggestions/questions of others • Just do it

15. Go On With Life • Stop moaning and groaning • It’s required, you did it, it’s over • Your students deserve the best instruction possible • GAA is only a SMALL PART of your job • Good instruction planned to meet IEP objectives and align with standards doesn’t stop when GAA is over

16. Resources • GAA info from DOE http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/ci_testing.aspx?PageReq=CI_TESTING_GAA • DOE Electronic Resource Board http://gadoe.georgiastandards.org/impairment.aspx • Cobb Support Blog http://pickettsmill.typepad.com/pritchard