What a Novel Idea!

I thank those of you who are using the blog as a resource for best practices. That is, of course, the purpose for what I write here.  Here's a great example of blog-inspired instruction:  Stations, and a bonus of inferencing too!

In these stations, students worked on inferencing skills to apply to their current novels. Each station had a different medium for students to practice inferring meaning: reading short stories, watching commercials, analyzing objects, and interpreting photographs.

Who Knew It Was a Short Week?

 

I love how we are maintaining a learning focus during a short week that could easily be blown off as educational fluff.  As we move into the holiday season and kids (ok, let's be honest - adults too) get a little "off balance," it's important to maintain high engagement and focus.  By implementing authentic learning and highly engaging instruction, everyone maintains the focus for learning. 

 

 

 What?  The Fitness Room is booked?  No big deal!  Check out Health/Fitness getting creative with space and keeping all kids focused on healthy habits.  I've been impressed by how this team works together to share equipment, space and students in order to have all students engaged in healthy activities!

 

 

Station Teaching is still one of my favorite instructional methods for student engagement (in case you missed the last blog about this, I thought I should be clear).  In this room, collaborative teaching with a student teacher adds to the focused instruction.  While one teacher is a station discussing the principle of Confucianism with students, the other is monitoring the learning activities at other station, activities which include computerized quiz games, videos, and primary source analysis. 

Give me a K-I-N-E-S-T-H-E-T-I-C....

 

Getting kids to use their bodies to represent learning is a great way in increase student engagement and increase memory.  Check out 7th grade science  and how they use a variety of models to help students understand atomic structure (drawings, technology, 3D, etc).

In the classroom, students were assigned a particle to represent and practiced building different elements (1 proton, 1 electron, 1 neutron = hydrogen). After building the largest possible element in each class, the two classes met outside to combine forces. In this model, students took on the characteristics of the model - protons and neutrons clumbed together and swayed, while electrons whizzed around the entire field. This was a great way to engage kinesthetic learners!

Hooray for the Techies!

What a great idea to make it easy for parents to access the website for homework!  On conference nights, 7 Green handed out labels for parents to direct them to the website.  Just scan the QR code and it takes you right to the homework section of the website. 

How Many Times Do I Have To Say The Same Thing?

By creating a video of your instruction, not only do you perserve your voice and reduce that nagging question of "Did I tell this class?", but you also free yourself to engage with students.  By having the directions/review through video, you are able to conference with individual students to see their progress and close any instructional misconceptions.  What a way to increase timely feedback!

It's No Secret - I Love Station Teaching

Can it be a little chaotic?  At first...
Does it require clear communication of expectations?  Most definitely...
Do students need to practice how to perform in stations?  Yes...

Do you have to let go of control?  Yes...but that's because students are gaining control, taking responsibility for their own learning and remaining engaged in their learning when they see a purpose in each station's activity.  Take a look at station teaching in action...

 

The key to strong stations are clear directions and expecations.  Teachers should be able to facilitate student learning and involvement by circulating in the room.  It helps to have a system in place for when kids need help (i.e., ask yourself, ask a neighbor, ask the whole group, ask the teacher) so that you don't run ragged supporting students who want to skip the directions.

 

 

In this case, stations work great to use the computers to enter eValuate data, saving instructional time while providing great learning and practice opportunities.

Some things I found successful when using stations in the classroom:  1) don't be afraid to let them take multiple days; 2) have a system in place for students who have questions, as identified above; 3) have someone proofread your directions for clarity before giving them to students; and 4) have a variety of activities for differentiation and varied learning strategies.

If you have questions/thoughts about trying stations in your classroom, let me know - I'd love to help!

Engaging Students in Inferring Word Meaning

Students follow directions that include both academic and content vocabulary, using their context clues to determine what step to take next.  It's hard to see in the second photo, but....Look at that great strategy of identifying the words they don't know to begin deciphering them!