One of the key goals of the Alabama State Improvement Grant (SIG) and  the State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) has been to increase the quality of instruction so that all students (i.e., typical achieving, learning disabled, English-language Learners, etc.) are more engaged in meaningful learning to produce substantial improvements in performance.  At the heart of this initiative has been state-wide staff development in the Makes Sense Strategies (MSS) developed by Edwin Ellis at the University of Alabama.  The MSS model is an approach to teaching based on three fundamental instructional principles:


  1.  Students learn better when they are actively engaged in processing new information in meaningful ways.
  2.  Increasing the learn-ability of information or skills is preferable to dumbing down what students are expected to learn. 
  3.  Students should not waste time learning trivia.

In part, the Makes Sense approach is a collection of powerful techniques and tools for differentiating curriculum, planning and implementing instruction, and assessing student learning.  In part, it's a curriculum because students learn new strategies and thinking skills when teachers employ the MSS strategies.  In part, the Makes Sense approach is teaching philosophy about what students should learn and how it should be taught.  MSS also includes strategies and tools for planning, implementing and assessing innovative school reform efforts. 

Makes Sense Strategies (MSS) videos series explores the MSS Toolkit, provides directions to access and use the software, features instruction routines, and provides samples created by teachers to address specific learning standards.    

Addressing Disproportionality in Alabama Schools

MSS professional development training must be conducted annually for all newly hired teachers, administrators, evaluators and others, as appropriate; in Alabama Public Schools.      

MSS professional development is organized into four parts.  Complete the training in the order in which it is presented, starting with Part I:  Introduction, Part II: Specific Discipline, Part III:  Big Bang Graphic Organizer Instructional Routines, and ending with Part IV:  Teacher Assessment. 

Part 1. Introduction
Click the link to view all three videos and download handouts:
Makes Sense Strategies Introduction
    What If Introduction
    Whats the Big Deal about Graphic Organizers?
    MSS software tour
    MSS SPE Teachers Instructions

Part 2.  Specific Discipline
Select from the menu below the area that best matches the type of position for which you have been hired.

1.  If you are a special education teacher, then select the  option that best aligns with the curriculum area that you spend the majority
     of your time supporting (e.g. if you will be co-teaching math courses in grade 9, then select "MATH, grades 6-12").
2.  We recommend that physical education teachers select one of the science options.
3.  We recommend that ROTC teachers select the Social Studies (grades 9-12) option.

  Administrators & Instructional Leaders
    Why Bother? - Video
    MSS Critical Features - Video
      Project Based - Learning Smart Sheets - Video
  (e.g., curriculum Coordinator, Professional Developer, Reading Coach)
  School Counselors
     MSS Application for School Counselors Part 1 - Video
     MSS Application for School Counselors Part II - Video
  Early Childhood (K-3) Teacher
    Part 1 Using Smart Sheets to teach K-3 Reading - Video
    Part 2 Using Smart Sheets to teach K-3 Vocabulary - Video
     Part 3 Using Smart Sheets to teach K-3 Writing - Video
  Intermediate (4-5) Teacher
    Part 1 Using Smart Sheets to Teach Reading - Video
    Part 2 Using Smart Sheets to Teach Vocabulary - Video
    Part 3 Using Smart Sheets to Teach Writing - Video
    Part 4 Project-based Learning Smart Sheets - Video
  Language Arts (grades 6-8) Teacher
    Part 1 Common Core READING Standards & MSS - Video
     Part 2 Common Core VOCABULARY Standards & MSS - Video
     Part 3 Common Core WRITING Standards & MSS - Video
     Part 4 Project-based Learning Standards & MSS - Video
  Social Studies (grades 6-8) Teacher
    Part 1 Smart Sheets for Social Studies Content - Video
     Part 2 Vocabulary Smart Sheets - Video
     Part 3 Project-based Learning Smart Sheets - Video
  Science (grades 6-8) Teacher 
     Part 1 Smart Sheets for Science Content - Video
     Part 2 Vocabulary Smart Sheets - Video
   Language Arts (grades 9-12) Teacher
    Part 1 Common Core READING Standards & MSS - Video
     Part 2 Common Core WRITING Standards & MSS - Video
  Science (grades 9-12) Teacher
    Part 1 9-12 Smart Sheets for Science Content - Video
     Part 2 9-12 Vocabulary Smart Sheets - Video
  Social Studies (grades 9-12) Teacher
    Part 1 Smart Sheets for Social Studies Content - Video
     Part 2 Vocabulary Smart Sheets - Video
     Part 3 Project -based Learning Smart Sheets - Video
  Math (grades 6-12) Teacher
    Part 1 6-12 Math MSS applications.- Video

Part 3.  "Big Bang Graphic Organizer Instructional Routines"
Click the link to view all five videos and download handouts: 
     Part 1 GO Instruction Big Ideas - video
     Part 2 BEFORE Lesson GO Routines - video
     Part 3 DURING Lesson Reading GO Routines - video
     Part 4 DURING Lesson Writing GO Routines - video
     Part 5 AFTER Lesson GO Routines - video
   
Part 4:  Teacher Assessment
Click the link to open the teacher assessment.  Answer each question, then save and print. 
  Teacher Assessment
 Assessment for Administrators and Instructional Leaders

 
Note: If you have problems with the handouts or teacher assessment, try downloading documents to your desktop first, then open from there.

Contact Us

     Theresa Farmer
     (334) 694-4782
     tfarmer@alsde.edu

ALSDE Contact

     Theresa Farmer
     tfarmer@alsde.edu