Submitted by Jessica (not verified) on March 20, 2008 - 12:10.
After reading many professional books and diving into the reading workshop in my classroom, I learned how to kick things into high gear for my students in reading. Rather than assigning them tasks that are my choice for them to complete, I began facilitating their learning rather than solely directing their learning.
Second graders are always wondering about the world around them, and at this grade they are also beginning to read independently for information. So I decided to take a chance and do some inquiry learning and research. Students brainstormed all kinds of questions about the world. Then they researched their questions and found the answers they had been wondering about. Once they found their answers I set them free to do projects. I did not give them a "book report" project, rather, I gave them an outline of what they needed to include for an effective project.
They quickly learned how to switch gears as the students got busy creating 3-D diaramas, posters with large pictures displaying their answers, poems about their question, hats that showed their answers in a unique way, etc. No project was the same and no project was what the teacher wanted the student to complete. Those that had trouble getting started absorbed what the students around them were doing and quickly took charge. And while all of this was going on, I was simply facilitating and providing support and guidance.
The projects came out better than I could have imagined and unlike sending projects home to complete, they were completed by the students alone.
I learned that when I give my students the tools to succeed and the knowledge they can use to apply, they will produce work for which they can be proud. And I will not be disappointed!
Because of this positive experience, the students have the desire to do more inquiry learning and have a sense of independence for their work. It has been an amazing experience!
Teacher best practices and student learning
Submitted by Jessica (not verified) on March 20, 2008 - 12:10.
After reading many professional books and diving into the reading workshop in my classroom, I learned how to kick things into high gear for my students in reading. Rather than assigning them tasks that are my choice for them to complete, I began facilitating their learning rather than solely directing their learning.
Second graders are always wondering about the world around them, and at this grade they are also beginning to read independently for information. So I decided to take a chance and do some inquiry learning and research. Students brainstormed all kinds of questions about the world. Then they researched their questions and found the answers they had been wondering about. Once they found their answers I set them free to do projects. I did not give them a "book report" project, rather, I gave them an outline of what they needed to include for an effective project.
They quickly learned how to switch gears as the students got busy creating 3-D diaramas, posters with large pictures displaying their answers, poems about their question, hats that showed their answers in a unique way, etc. No project was the same and no project was what the teacher wanted the student to complete. Those that had trouble getting started absorbed what the students around them were doing and quickly took charge. And while all of this was going on, I was simply facilitating and providing support and guidance.
The projects came out better than I could have imagined and unlike sending projects home to complete, they were completed by the students alone.
I learned that when I give my students the tools to succeed and the knowledge they can use to apply, they will produce work for which they can be proud. And I will not be disappointed!
Because of this positive experience, the students have the desire to do more inquiry learning and have a sense of independence for their work. It has been an amazing experience!