Welcome to the Teaching to Exceed Virtual School!

While here, you'll work through case studies that correspond with chapters in Teaching to Exceed the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards: A Literacy Practices Approach for 6-12 Classrooms. (Now updated for the Second Edition.)

We believe this activity will work best if you participate with a small group of 3-6 people -- this will allow you to discuss questions and topics in the case studies. When you log in as a student, a transcript of your discussion is sent to you (and your teacher, if appropriate).

These case studies engage you in common scenarios of practicing teachers in real classrooms. The time you spend on these case studies will be well spent, as they provide the opportunity to explore the diverse challenges you will face as a classroom teacher.

From Teaching to Exceed Virtual School you begin each case study in a "Hallway" which provides context for the case; as you complete discussion in each "Hallway," you and your group move to a "Classroom" to further explore and discuss the case. Finally, you head to a third room (and sometimes fourth room), in which you will engage with your group in a task or tasks related to the case.

To "talk" in this world, be sure the button "say" in the lower left window has been clicked, then type in that box and hit return. The conversation scrolls on the left side. The transcript of your group discussions will be available to you and your methods teacher. You may use it for self-reflection and assessment that may even become a component of your e-portfolio; your instructor may use this transcript to monitor your participation and progress in your methods course, as well as to inform his or her own instruction.

Best to you as you explore the complexities, demands, and ultimate triumphs of English teachers!

We are developing ideas for the use of virtual identities, or avatars, in this virtual school. They will be found in the Identity Closet. More on this as the resource is developed.