Teaching and Learning |
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Next week is Children's Book Week! We should celebrtate the joys of children's books everyday, but this week is designed to celebrate nation-wide. Check out the following site for some great resources for you and your students at http://www.bookweekonline.com/
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April is …
7 – World Health Day 21 – 27 – National Volunteer Week 22 – 28 – Administrative Professionals Week 25 – Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day 28 – May 4 – Screen Free Week (Formerly TV-Turnoff Week) I love pondering on teaching methods that work to help students be successful in their learning, especially methods that promote students as active learners. Recently, I have heard, explored, and pondered on the research and benefits of using the Socratic methods and Paideia methods in the classroom. My own children attended an elementary school where Paideia (py-dee-a) was used instructionally and I saw the many benefits they reaped. Moreover, I have been thinking of how social and emotional benefits are gained by students when engaged in this type of instruction.
I think the statement that "teachers need to SLOW DOWN" is really important to reflect upon these days. We have so many standards to cover, and so many assignments to grade, and so many meetings to attend....the list goes on and on. However, it is important to remember that the Common Core Standards are all about getting DEEP in learning. The shift is no longer about surfacing through content as quickly as possible. Engaging students in critical thinking is getting deep. Using instructional methods such as Paideia may help us to plan for deep instruction. Paideia methods may also help to build relationships with students, which in turn help to build a classroom community. Paideia constitutes that all student opinions matter. When students feel that they are accepted through use of an instructional strategy may even cut down on discipline issues. I felt an urge to reflect on this today as I read a teacher reflection that roughly stated that teaching is no longer fun, because there are so many discipline issues to deal with everyday. That statement made me really sad for the teacher and the students. Teaching should be fun! Learning should be fun! Education should be fun! Maybe as teachers we need to mix things up a bit and use instructional methods that help to create class communities? Would using Paideia or Socratic methods to discuss discipline within the class help make teaching and learning more fun? Would taking time out to build relationships within the class through instructional methods help make teaching/learning fun? If teachers aren't having fun teaching, then students are not having fun learning. The dynamic is unproductive for all involved. I think my questions are worth reflecting upon. I hope to plant some seeds about my thoughts as well. |