1. To what extent do you use social support to manage student behavior and boost academic progress? How can you better foster collaboration and cooperation in your class?
2. Do you currently make time to develop student leadership and teamwork? If so, do you teach these skills overtly? What are some new ways you could enhance leadership and teamwork in your classroom?
3. Name two or three ways you can alter your curriculum to help you automate engagement in your class.
4. Many teachers already use technology as a way to boost engagement. What are some ways you can use technology more purposefully as a learning tool?
There is hardly a day that goes by that my students aren't working together to complete an activity. If a problem arises in a group I first have the group members talk to try to resolve the problem. If they can not resolve the problem I will talk to the group members and resolve it. I let them talk amongst themselves first so they can share their feelings with one another. I think it's important for the students to talk about their feelings to show their teammate how they made them feel. I got to see first hand how this strategy worked. On Friday I paired a boy and a girl together to play a bingo game in Reading. The girl instantly got an attitude when I called out heir names as partners. Before we played the game, I heard the boy say "______ you need to lose the attitude, let's just play." I put my hands over my face and started laughing so hard, I am guilty of saying that phrase with these kids. Believe it or not, she turned around her attitude and played well during bingo.
ReplyDeleteI really like the different rituals that are in this chapter. I can see myself using the start class one. I can also see myself using the whoosh ritual. I like the idea of having these things set in place to use them and the students will know exactly what to do.
I think it's important to integrate technology in the classroom in all subjects. It's easy to use iPads during math and have the students play games on a certain topic. I try to incorporate iPads during the other subjects too. If there was more time in a day then I would be able to do more with technology in all of the subjects more often. When I use iPads I try to partner up the students to ensure they stay on task and they are able to teach each other.
Those little eyes and ears pick up on everything. One of the best ways to get students to listen...tell them not to (LOL)
DeleteI agree Karen! If something is a "secret" they will listen for days!
DeleteSocial support is important for behavior and boosting academic progress because students care how their peers feel. In my classroom, students praise each other for reaching goals, making a good grade, or even answering a simple question correctly. It is neat to see students who have more difficulty academically or controlling behavior be encouraged by their classmates when they do something positive. The best way for me to foster collaborate and cooperation in my class is to praise the positive behavior when I see it. In my classroom, students are seated in groups. When a group is following directions, I give that table a bouncy ball for their pail. This is for “being on the ball.” It is amazing how quickly the other groups become on task once one group receives a ball!
ReplyDeleteEach day, my students work together in small groups to work on developing leadership and teamwork. The students do a great job of making sure everyone is doing their part and holding everyone in the group accountable. I notice group processing as I go around and listen to the groups’ discussions and ask my own questions. Throughout the school year, the students found the best methods to complete their work in the allotted time given according to what each group member could do. It was awesome to see students work together as a team to get their tasks completed. I always say, “I like the way this group is doing …” or “This student is doing an awesome job of this” to make sure students have positive examples of what they should be doing to make sure each team is working together.
I try to engage students each day by making the curriculum relatable to real world scenarios. I like the solutions of “incorporating issues that connect” and “embed real-life professions and trades in the curriculum.” I agree that project-based learning is one of the best ways to integrate real-world scenarios because students are actually doing and creating which allows students to gain a full understanding of a topic. I enjoyed having my students complete the Junior Achievement program this year because I could tie in the curriculum to the topics they learned during the program: starting your own business, how communities and banks earn their money, and different places to build buildings. Making information important and relevant to students is the best way to gain students interest and keep them engaged.
Technology is used as the best tool when students are given the opportunity to create a model or presentation to show what they know. I love using Educreations or Chatterpix because students utilize technology to show me what they know. When learning about shapes, I had students take pictures of different geometric figures in the classroom. They took pictures, used their voices to tell the different attributes and features of each shape, and then used the tools/features of the app to point the attributes and features out as they were speaking. This is a way for students to create a final product that can be used as an assessment of their knowledge. It is important that technology is used more purposefully in the classroom for students and not simply as a time filler.
I reward my groups as well. I will let the quietest group or the group that worked well together line up first. Sometimes I will do an oral assessment at the end of class and the group that gives the right answer first gets to line up first.
DeleteI love the positive competition that the "being on the ball" reward must stimulate. Positive competition really seems to work. Love it!
DeleteI love educreations too. It is always interesting to hear their explanations.
DeleteLove the "on the ball" and will use that next year!
DeleteThanks
It all goes back to getting students to buy-in and take ownership of their learning doesn't it? Teaching socially acceptable behavior comes not just from adults, but also students as Brittany showed us in her response above. In my class we give high fives to each other and speak to each other respectfully. When a student says something inappropriate, I will overhear another student say, "please don't say that to me, it's not nice and it hurts my feelings." Pretty powerful when you consider it’s coming from a 9 year old. I would like to try the "yes" clap next year as a way to energize and incorporate music, I think I will also have them state one thing they learned that day as they put the material learned into their hands. One ritual I miss, that I would like to bring back is to bring all our hearing impaired children together to celebrate birthdays. Becky and I have moved from celebrating on the day, to celebrating seasonal (e.g. fall, spring...), to not celebrating together at all. I would like to bring it back next year.
ReplyDeleteI teach self-advocacy skills to my students beginning in 4th grade and continuing to the middle and high school which gives them control of their learning, their FM equipment, their IEP; and they begin to see how these skills carry over to their lives outside of school. Honestly, I never really thought of assigning leadership roles to my students because I don’t have a large group at one time. They wouldn’t be participating in “cooperative group learning” as they would in their regular education classroom. After reading this chapter, I realized I could assign leadership roles to my students because we do work cooperatively in our own way. I especially like the idea of making them relevant to jobs in the work place such as “electrician, FedEx agent, teacher assistant, quarter master, and fitness instructor.”
Match curriculum to child’s world; easier said than done, but not impossible. Project-based learning is proven to increase student engagement while supporting personal interests. I think this is easier to do at the middle/high school level, and I have been trying to come up with a way to do it with my elementary students. Listening to them this year, I think I might have it…hearing loss (type and part of ear affected), hearing aids/cochlear implants, and FM systems. What do you think?
Technology is a weak area for me and has been for awhile. I am going to try to use iPads more next year with the project –based learning opportunity I am developing this summer. I plan to find out how to use QR codes as a way to guide students through sections of the project and learn more about infographics.
I could be completely wrong in this, but when I read about project based learning I felt like my role would be to teach them many different ways to present learning. In third grade I don't know that they are ready for open-ended projects.
DeleteI think a lot of what students do is by how much they buy into it. If they are working in a group and buy into the project, see the goal at hand and feel like they created the situation, they will work harder. I spent time this year making an effort to do less whole group instruction and more small groups. This was a challenge for me in "letting go" of control and allowing them to foster a lot of their own knowledge. This led to a little more chaos and noise, but more learning. My small groups had assignments and were allowed to score themselves and group members on a weekly basis. This means, they knew that they were going to be held accountable for what gone done during that week. This was a challenge for some of mine that like to "lead" all the time, especially if more than one leader was in the group. We spent time talking about cooperation and working together sometimes means not getting our own way all the time.
ReplyDeleteI love the way they talk about rituals. I have never thought about using such specific rituals in the classroom. I have flagged those pages and plan to incorporate something to go with the Welcome Back each day and the birthdays. I think starting each day off the same way and with a smile will benefit ALL of us.
I use technology when I can, but not as a motivator much. We just don't have time. I like to use it to review and use the apps with science. I also try and use them for research and in small groups for math, twice a week. In reading, we used technology a lot with side units for our novels. I would like to do more next year with videos the kids can make or a photograph project.
I also liked the section on rituals and can see how they can be effective in the classroom. I think celebratory rituals as well as getting back on task rituals would be great in the gym.
DeleteKristen,
DeleteHave you ever tried Educreations? The kids can upload video of themselves talking, record their voice, draw while they are talking, and so much more! It's an easy one to set up a class and give everyone an account. Then they can login on your computer and share on the smart board. The kids love it!
My students are seated in groups ranging from 2 to 4 students. I try to place the lower level students with higher level ones. This makes the groups more diversified and allows students to better help one another.
ReplyDeleteEach team has a team captain who gets supplies and cleans up. I also foster teamwork by rewarding the groups that follow directions or who can answer questions about the lesson. I also try to do at least one group assignment per class during the year.
I need to alter my curriculum by adding more technology.
I would like to find apps for the IPADs that will help my students learn the elements and principles of art. I am also trying to find more interactive activities for the SMARTboard.
1. In PE we do a lot of cooperative games and activities as well as team oriented games and activities. They must work together to achieve common goals and/or win competitions. We engage in ritualistic learning of Sportsmanship each day in that at the end of each activity or game. We speak in unison by congratulating the winning team. Something I can try, if it does not take up too much of our time, is too allow the groups to choose their leaders. Many times I either choose them based on how well they have done in class that day or allow them to work on equal ground, or allow them to sort it out naturally.
ReplyDelete2. We work on these daily through our cooperative games, activities and challenges and through team games. I also teach these skills through our character training with the Nine Core Values of the First Tee.
3. I could try things like allowing the students to create a stations day based on certain criteria I provide them or allow them to do real life type projects with fitness and exercise. This would probably be best suited for 4th and 5th grade. I have done this type of activity before with Middle School students.
6. Ways to incorporate more technology into my classroom would be through the use of heart rate monitors and pedometers. I have done this before with Middle School students but it would require a fine balance of time so as to not take away from their 40 minutes of activity. In Middle school we see the students daily so there is more time to work on things like this. With Elementary, they only get 40 minutes a week and you do not want to waste a second as you have limited time to get through each objective and the 40 minutes might be the only exercise some kids are getting through out the week.
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ReplyDeleteMy reading groups are usually 5-6 students who are similar levels and in need of similar instruction. Everyone is well behaved and participates and I rarely have issues. Each student has a folder and a chart for stickers to be added if they are on track and working hard the entire time. When students fill in the chart, they receive a treat from me. This is the process that Linda used the first half of the year and students are motivated and competing to fill in the chart.
ReplyDeleteWays that I could alter my curriculum to automate engagement in my classroom are to establish rituals. I like the idea of having them repeat a rule or topic that we focused on before rising from the table to line up. Perhaps hearing it from each other repeatedly will help to cement the concept in their minds before they walk out the door. I kind of like the call and response procedure on page 137. I could use it or tweak it to make it my own. Something that says “We’re starting now, pay attention!”
There are so many great apps that I am wanting to master when working with my students particularly my fourth graders. I have used Nearpad, Chatterpix and a few others. I have had the opportunity to try some great engagement activities during my Title I Teacher Meetings and I am anxious to take time to figure them out over the summer so that I can incorporate them into my teaching.
I use social support within my classroom as a way for students to feel like they are part of a collaborative group. We are grouped together for at least one activity a day but usually we are working together for more than one subject. I have tried to teach them how to approach a problem within their group without consulting me. Group work helps with some of the behavior issues that involve students wanting to talk with neighbors or be out of their seats because group work is a time when that behavior is acceptable as long as they are on task with their group. We also like to show praise within our classroom whether its by simply telling a friend they gave a great answer or using 'ten-finger woo' where we all turn towards the person who did something impressive and give them jazz fingers while saying 'woo' - difficult to explain but it's a simple yet effective way to make students feel good about themselves.
ReplyDeleteDuring these group times we often change our roles so that one person is not the leader for the entire time and others have a chance to listen as well as lead. During our 'peanut butter-jelly' partner times I will announce who speaks first in the partnership then after a couple minutes.
I like some of the rituals that were mentioned in this chapter. That's something that I currently do within my classroom with certain call and responses or saying that they know means they need to listen up for what is coming next. Honestly they love them and are very accustomed to them.
I would love to find more apps this summer that will help my kids delve even deeper into a subject or standard. We love using Nearpod, the kids get very into it and it's also a great way for me to see how well they understood a lesson or unit. Also, kahoot is a great hit in my class but sometimes the time restraints can be stressful for some kids so I usually use this for things that they fully know and can find an answer very quickly.
It makes me laugh thinking of you doing the "ten finger woo" and jazz hands. :)
Delete1. I feel that my classroom is very socially based. We are up and moving around the room often, so it allows for relationships to be more easily developed. They seem to progress more because they are not as afraid to share opinions. They might be louder but they have better attitudes because they enjoy what they are learning. I could possibly be more intentional with how I pair my children in groups to help each child have the perspectives of others that are different from them.
ReplyDelete2. I feel that my subject area lends itself to teamwork skills and leadership skills so, yes, I teach them often but pretty much just through what we are doing. I could enhance leadership and teamwork by allowing a new student to lead something every week or by giving groups a “leader”.
3. I can allow the students to make choices regarding the curriculum. I can have the students involved in leading certain parts of the curriculum.
4. I can have things more organized and therefor more easily accessible for the children. I can also make things look more appealing such as lecture bullet points, etc.
I agree with attempting to be more organized! That will be my goal next year!
DeleteI really liked the rituals section. When students know the routine and are familiar with expectations, everything goes smoother for everyone. I thought the Whoosh idea was fabulous. When doing group/partner activities, I find it very educational how students get along. I ask the classroom teacher for input about students who may not get along, and that helps to make activities more pleasant overall. There are times when students are put together and they have issues. Several other teachers have mentioned the same idea -- let students try to work it out first and then the teacher can mediate. I try to say what they should be doing instead of what they shouldn't be doing, trying to keep a positive spin. I like the leadership ideas mentioned. I do want to implement the different roles for group activities. This does help when classroom teachers already have established roles (like line leader or class helper). I try to piggyback on what classroom teachers already do. I do want to implement even more hands-on activities next year, group activities, and technology projects. Using technology has been important to me, and I agree that students need to see a direct connection between what they are learning and how they will use it in "the real world". The students love using technology, and it helps as I get more access each year to the Ipads and computers.
ReplyDeleteAs far as social support goes, I have used classroom jobs for most of my teaching years, and I have always tried to make a big deal out of birthdays for my students. However, I think I have used more routines than "rituals". I find them to be interesting ways to get kids back on track without having to raise your own blood pressure by raising your voice or something. I think it would be something wise to use with my students. Because students have to transition to even come to my class, it would be smart to have a ritual of and official "beginning" so they'd know it was time to get down to business when they arrive. I like the way the author suggested making classroom jobs more like real jobs. Favorite quote: "Nobody ever says, 'I want to be a Line Leader when I grow up!' " What a simple but effective way to make classroom jobs more authentic!
ReplyDeleteI have not overtly taught my students teamwork and leadership skills, but it makes great sense to do so. Making sure everyone knows what a group member is supposed to do, and making sure that everyone is accountable can cut down on the "freeloaders" of the group who expect everyone else to do all the work while they lounge around or create mischief. Teaching specific teamwork and leadership skills, having students create rubrics (and actually use them to self evaluate) would be great ways to improve in these areas.
Project based learning and "real world" problems are great ways to automate engagement in class. Just like having the students create the evaluation rubric (with teacher guidance) gives them more of the "it was all my idea" attitude, which is helpful when it comes to evaluating work.
One of my favorite ways to utilize technology more purposefully as a learning tool is to use it as a tool to create and/or present learning to the class. Rather than using technology just to say you've used it, why not use the curriculum, assign a specific product to be presented and have the kids show what they know? I also love the app, Air Sketch. Not only is it free, but every iPad in the room can connect to the smart board via bluetooth, and each iPad can be shown individually on the screen. It is extremely engaging, and brings accountability for learning, because EVERYONE can see it, even if students remain anonymous. They still want to be correct in front of their peers!
Students in my class this year did a good job of helping each other in small groups to complete learning tasks and to keep each other on track during whole class activities. I like the idea of assigning specific roles within groups and remember using some from last year's book study. I think that is one of those procedures I should introduce at the beginning of this coming year. I think I can improve my use of technology from primarily a review tool to a way students can demonstrate their learning.
ReplyDeleteI also liked the idea of assigning roles during small groups and will definitely use some of the roles they provided in my next years group.
Delete1. To what extent do you use social support to manage student behavior and boost academic progress? How can you better foster collaboration and cooperation in your class?
ReplyDeleteRituals and structured routine are what seems to work best for my kiddos.
I feel to foster collaboration better I need to continue to model the behavior.
2. Do you currently make time to develop student leadership and teamwork? If so, do you teach these skills overtly? What are some new ways you could enhance leadership and teamwork in your classroom?
We have class jobs and students take turns with different leadership roles. The idea of everyone having a job and together we complete all that needs to be done establishes the idea of teamwork.
3. Name two or three ways you can alter your curriculum to help you automate engagement in your class.
I like the idea of adding a ritual to start a class, such as the “whoosh” ritual on p. 138.
Love the idea of leaving on a high note and will start the “yes” clap at dismissal.
4. Many teachers already use technology as a way to boost engagement. What are some ways you can use technology more purposefully as a learning tool?
I have one student that the ipad was used as a reinforcer to engage them. It was a great incentive and as year progressed I was able to wean the student off that and then use ipad for academic learning as well.
Group work is a major part of my class. I try to make sure the same people are not always together in the same group, so that all the students get to see the way others work and interact with each other. At the beginning to the year when groups would have an issue I modeled with them how to work the problem out as a group and the types of things they needed to say to each other. As the year went on I started making them try to resolve the issue themselves before they came to tell me about it. This seemed to work and the students worked very well together after that.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the idea of the different rituals to have in class. These would help the day go smoother because all the students knew what they were suppose to be doing and when.
I try to incorporate many different types of technology in class that will teach life skills and foster learning. I have utilized the computer lab to have the students create things on powerpoint, word, and publisher. As well as using the Ipads for learning games and research.