So... I really enjoyed the literacy engagement simulation activities. After our class on Wednesday, I dug into our Classroom Strategies for Interactive Learning textbook a bit more. Section 2 contains some really cool ideas I plan to incorporate into my teahing, and the appendix of reproducibles is equally useful.
The Brainstorming Prior Knowledge strategies (pp. 55-58) are especially important for us as content teachers. These help prepare students for new material and help us as teachers to see what background knowledge our students are bringing into a lesson or unit. These strategies can be set up for most any class or classroom environment- students working individually, in groups, or as an entire group. Many of the strategies for vocabulary development also caught my attention. Using graphic organizers or thinking maps to help build vocabulary knowledge seems particularly useful. Providing class notes in graphic organizer form (like the Power Notes Concept Map on page 126 and the Structured Note-Taking methods from pages 170 to 174) would also be an effective and more engaging form of direct instruction than a straight lecture with outline notes for them to copy from the board. Think/Pair/Share is a strategy I saw in practice on Thursday in class. I think it works well for the students, but can be a little repetitive. For this type of activity, I think it would be important to vary what students are thinking and/or discussing as they move from individual thinking to paried discussion to the class debriefing.
Following these strategies in class, using informal Quick Writes is essential. These are "opportunities for further deliberation, to double-check our understandings, and to clarify our thinking. This essential component of understanding--synthesizing--involves processing a message so that it has personal meaning" (Buehl, 141). From our MAT classes, we have learned that applying personal meaning or connections to academic content will allow for more retention and transfer, which is the ultimate goal of education.
Really helpful the way you searched Buehl resource for ideas, Beth. Quick writes and exit slips are great ideas to get at individual assessments. The framework of before, during, and after will help in planning. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI like the points you added about our class last week. I really learned alot through that class period where we all shared our strategies. I have also looked into the strategies book to find additional strategies that will help the students in my room. I also agree with what you said about the strategies helping the students be able to transfer information. Transfer train! :)
ReplyDeleteI must admit that I've enjoyed this class. When this class first started, I wasn't sure what to expect. I feel that we've been exposed to some great resources and this will greatly help me in the field.
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