It is my goal to create a safe and secure learning environment within my classroom while also stimulating the young minds to soak up knowledge and thrive. The following rules will help ensure my class is a happy, fun learning zone.
1) Bullying will not be tolerated.
2) Negativity is left outside the classroom
3) Students will be honest with me and themselves
4) Students will give their best effort at all times.
5) Students will help one another when in need.
6) Foul language and attitudes will not be tolerated.
7) Students will keep their learning areas tidy
8) Students will be required to have open minds with a thirst for knowledge through fun activities.
9) Students will be creative.
10) Students will have learn.
As their teacher, I will be their educator and their friend. I will be there for them if they are having problems with a lesson or even if they are encountering a social problem. My goal is to create a trust with my students and ensure that their learning environment is positive because their success, is my success. Their happiness is my happiness.
Monday, May 12, 2014
What is differentiated learning and how it will work in my classroom...
"Differentiating instruction means creating multiple paths so that students of different abilities, interest or learning needs experience equally appropriate ways to absorb, use, develop and present concepts as a part of the daily learning process. It allows students to take greater responsibility and ownership for their own learning, and provides opportunities for peer teaching and cooperative learning" (Theroux,2004).
Identifying each students individual learning style, as well as, identifying each students predominant multiply intelligences will make for an easy transition into differentiated instruction. All three of these methods have the same goal, to zone in on each students individual learning strategy and focusing lessons that encompass those qualities. By tailoring these lessons to each students style, it helps put the student in control of their own education and encourage success.
Reference:
Theroux, P.(2004).Enhancing Learning with Technology Differentiated Instruction. Retrieved on May 12, 2014. From: http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/differentiating.html
Identifying each students individual learning style, as well as, identifying each students predominant multiply intelligences will make for an easy transition into differentiated instruction. All three of these methods have the same goal, to zone in on each students individual learning strategy and focusing lessons that encompass those qualities. By tailoring these lessons to each students style, it helps put the student in control of their own education and encourage success.
Reference:
Theroux, P.(2004).Enhancing Learning with Technology Differentiated Instruction. Retrieved on May 12, 2014. From: http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/differentiating.html
Meeting the social and emotional needs of my students...
Being a teacher is not limited to simply teaching reading, writing and math. Teachers need to be able to relate to their students, how to understand them and be a friend when the student is in need.
It is my goal to:
be a friend
be a helper
be trust-worthy
be honest
be kind
be respectful
be compassionate
be caring
be a confidante
I will also ensure my students:
play nice together
practice team work
participate in "hands on" educational projects
Children need more then the standard educational lessons that are taught in school, they require social activity and I will make it my goal to ensure that students have time to be kids, to socialize in a healthy and positive environment.
It is my goal to:
be a friend
be a helper
be trust-worthy
be honest
be kind
be respectful
be compassionate
be caring
be a confidante
I will also ensure my students:
play nice together
practice team work
participate in "hands on" educational projects
Children need more then the standard educational lessons that are taught in school, they require social activity and I will make it my goal to ensure that students have time to be kids, to socialize in a healthy and positive environment.
Providing a positive learning environment while eliminating fear of failure and humiliation....
My classroom will not be a "one size fits all" type of learning environment. On the contrary, at the beginning of the year, each student will be given an assessment to determine which of the eight multiple intelligences, they are strongest and weakest in.
Based upon those results, I will then plan my lessons to better suit students and their preferred learning style. I believe this method will not only allow my students to learn on their own terms but will give them the biggest opportunity to succeed.
My classroom will be a positive zone, where praise is encouraged and negativity is eliminated. I fully believe that students succeed better when they are encouraged and praised and so that will be the lesson of the year. I will expect all my students to follow my lead and in turn, our classroom will be a positive learning environment where students can be proud of their accomplishments and not fear humiliation.
Students will be encouraged to ask questions.
Students will be encouraged to help their classmates.
Students will be encouraged to be creative.
Students will be encouraged to be positive citizens.
Students will be encouraged to always do their best.
Based upon those results, I will then plan my lessons to better suit students and their preferred learning style. I believe this method will not only allow my students to learn on their own terms but will give them the biggest opportunity to succeed.
My classroom will be a positive zone, where praise is encouraged and negativity is eliminated. I fully believe that students succeed better when they are encouraged and praised and so that will be the lesson of the year. I will expect all my students to follow my lead and in turn, our classroom will be a positive learning environment where students can be proud of their accomplishments and not fear humiliation.
Students will be encouraged to ask questions.
Students will be encouraged to help their classmates.
Students will be encouraged to be creative.
Students will be encouraged to be positive citizens.
Students will be encouraged to always do their best.
Examples of what can be expected from students work and assignments...
What can we expect from the students work and assignments?
Based upon the lesson plan, the lessons will be taught on a statewide guideline but tailored towards each students individual educational differences. (i.e. multiple intelligences, learning styles). By law, each grade has a certain amount of lessons that must be covered to ensure all students in that grade have the same education. However, as spoken about earlier, each student is different and each student learns differently. Therefore, the lessons will follow a state-wide guideline but will be tailored to each student to ensure they learn.
The work and assignments will work towards a common end goal for the school year, like a rung on a ladder. Each rung (step) guides us to a higher rung (step) until all the required lessons have been taught successfully.
Based upon the lesson plan, the lessons will be taught on a statewide guideline but tailored towards each students individual educational differences. (i.e. multiple intelligences, learning styles). By law, each grade has a certain amount of lessons that must be covered to ensure all students in that grade have the same education. However, as spoken about earlier, each student is different and each student learns differently. Therefore, the lessons will follow a state-wide guideline but will be tailored to each student to ensure they learn.
The work and assignments will work towards a common end goal for the school year, like a rung on a ladder. Each rung (step) guides us to a higher rung (step) until all the required lessons have been taught successfully.
Examples of what can be expected from the assessment of students...
There are two types of assessments that schools use. The first being formative and the other being summative. It is said that a student cannot learn by summative assessments only but that a student can learn by formative assessments only. The reason for this is because formative assessments happen throughout the year and can be monitored frequently. Summative assessments occur at the end of a unit lesson, therefore once a summative assessment has been given, it is almost too late to go back to make corrections. It is like teaching a student how to add and subtract and then giving them a summative assessment at the end. If a student tested badly, by the time the teacher discovered the problem, the student would be far behind the rest of the class. So, through formative assessments, students who are having problems can be discovered more quickly and efficiently without falling behind.
Students will be given the opportunity to succeed
As previously talked about in an earlier post, not all students learn in the same manner. In regard to the eight intelligences, some students may have stronger skills in one or two different intelligences whereas another student may be stronger in another area. The eight intelligences are:
1) Linguistic = words
2) Logic/Math = concepts
3) Spatial = images & pictures
4) Kinesthetic = physical motion
5) Musical = rhythms
6) Interpersonal = communication & leadership
7) Intrapersonal = intuition
8) Naturalist = environment
Some students may be more interested in music and so lessons that revolve around that subject matter, become the students best work. However, maybe that same student is not as skilled in math or public speaking, assignments that took those types of tones would surely set this student up for failure. This is not an option in my classroom because success is the goal!
In addition to the eight intelligences, each student also has their own individual learning style and so in addition to accommodating to the students individual intelligences, I will also try and put focus on their individual learning styles.
"Learning styles, like multiple intelligences, describe a set of personal characteristics that also explain how different modes of instruction might be optimal for some and not for others. While teaching to multiple intelligences takes advantage of specific (or multiple) intellectual capacity or strengths, teaching for learning styles takes advantage of an individual's traits, or preferences for how something is presented and learned. Learning styles describes an individual's most effective or most preferred method for interacting with and mastering new and difficult information" (Puckett.2013).
Reference:
Puckett, K (2013). Differentiating Instruction: A Practical Guide. Bridgepoint Education: San Diego, CA.
1) Linguistic = words
2) Logic/Math = concepts
3) Spatial = images & pictures
4) Kinesthetic = physical motion
5) Musical = rhythms
6) Interpersonal = communication & leadership
7) Intrapersonal = intuition
8) Naturalist = environment
Some students may be more interested in music and so lessons that revolve around that subject matter, become the students best work. However, maybe that same student is not as skilled in math or public speaking, assignments that took those types of tones would surely set this student up for failure. This is not an option in my classroom because success is the goal!
In addition to the eight intelligences, each student also has their own individual learning style and so in addition to accommodating to the students individual intelligences, I will also try and put focus on their individual learning styles.
"Learning styles, like multiple intelligences, describe a set of personal characteristics that also explain how different modes of instruction might be optimal for some and not for others. While teaching to multiple intelligences takes advantage of specific (or multiple) intellectual capacity or strengths, teaching for learning styles takes advantage of an individual's traits, or preferences for how something is presented and learned. Learning styles describes an individual's most effective or most preferred method for interacting with and mastering new and difficult information" (Puckett.2013).
Reference:
Puckett, K (2013). Differentiating Instruction: A Practical Guide. Bridgepoint Education: San Diego, CA.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)