Much of the focus of the Education world for achievement is on what the adult stakeholders can or should do to improve the system. There are some innovative ideas generated, tested, and implemented. How can we help students be successful. How do we hold accountability to standards based on practice that is evidenced-based. What will schools of the future look like?
These are only some of the challenges that educators grapple with in seeking what is best for students. Through all of the work that's done, few include a missing element. One that may, in its simplicity, be the most difficult and critical element for success...
Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships are touted as critical to education. Yet few school cultures incorporate students as an equal member, much less the driving member of the learning team. Students can best determine the what and how of learning. For proof, look at adults regarding our learning. Give me the deadline and learning targets, and I will take the pathways that works for me. Reading, talking to others, watching videos...varying location from walks, cafes, desk, floor...with music or silence depending on "my" mood. It doesn't matter how or what I do, so long as the deadlines are met and the outcome produce is of high quality.
Shouldn't that be what's best for students?
Coach students on how to work in this format. Believe that they are capable if given the opportunity and guidance. Trust that they can succeed. When they fail, it's the best opportunity for them to learn and grow. It's our responsibility to teach them how to learn from mistakes.
Shouldn't that be what's best for students?
Showing posts with label relationships. Show all posts
Showing posts with label relationships. Show all posts
Friday, June 17, 2011
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Relationships Matter: Next Steps...
The previous 3 posts attempted to look at the powerful impact of getting to know our students. It's important, and perhaps, I've beaten that point into a deep hole. I could go further by referencing the impact of a study by William Sanders (Sanders 101 by Jeff Archer in Education Week, May 5, 1999 -View as PDF or Word) --http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/1999/05/05/34sander.h18.html --but I will not over indulge.
A better use of time would be to suggest tools for how we can learn more about the students who we are charged with their learning. One useful tool is a learning/perceptual survey. We make assumptions about the people who enter our classrooms. Students do the same. In many cases their assumptions were made long before they entered your classroom, based on their experiences, positive and negative, regarding school, subjects, and their capabilities. Having some sense of students' perceptions could go a long way in knowing how best to support them achieving.
Here is a list of potential questions you might ask at the beginning of school, when a new student enters the class, or--as this post occurs in the middle of a school year-- tomorrow. It's never too late to learn more about students.
Pick and choose the questions that best meet your needs. Rewrite and add your own. I'm thinking 4 to 5 questions might be the right balance so as not to overwhelm with tons of writing, and still get depth regarding who they are... plus or minus 2.
Would love to know your stories on your use of surveys, and questions you've used or developed that were helpful.
Sample Student Survey
Another type of feedback to have is how students learn best. There are many approaches to learning styles. Howard Gardner and Eric Jensen are widely known. I like to mix in Sternberg's Triarchic Theory on Multiple Intelligence and a few others, but that is for another post.
This movie clip shows the value of utilizing a varitey of learning experiences that incorporate learning styles for something as simple(?) as keeping a beat. Also consider the Zen conversation that Mr. Holland has with his Chess buddy. You need only watch for 6 minutes to get the point, although it's a great clip.
Mr. Hollands Opus -
Differentiating based on Understanding a student, and his needs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fTZcHACrqQ
Here are a list of resources that you may find far more useful than the list of sample questions I've provided. I've explored some more deeply than others, finding some great resources. This is to say as a disclaimer, please review a resource deeply and make your own decision about its value :)
Bon Appetit!
Survey resources
Learning Profile Surveys
A better use of time would be to suggest tools for how we can learn more about the students who we are charged with their learning. One useful tool is a learning/perceptual survey. We make assumptions about the people who enter our classrooms. Students do the same. In many cases their assumptions were made long before they entered your classroom, based on their experiences, positive and negative, regarding school, subjects, and their capabilities. Having some sense of students' perceptions could go a long way in knowing how best to support them achieving.
Here is a list of potential questions you might ask at the beginning of school, when a new student enters the class, or--as this post occurs in the middle of a school year-- tomorrow. It's never too late to learn more about students.
Pick and choose the questions that best meet your needs. Rewrite and add your own. I'm thinking 4 to 5 questions might be the right balance so as not to overwhelm with tons of writing, and still get depth regarding who they are... plus or minus 2.
Would love to know your stories on your use of surveys, and questions you've used or developed that were helpful.
Sample Student Survey
- 3 traits, others would describe me as:
- 3 traits I would describe myself as:
- 2 or 3 things I like to do outside of school are:
- 2 or 3 things I like to do in school are:
- My favorite subject is:_______________.
- What I like most to do in this subject is:
- What I don't like to do in this subject is:
- My least favorite subject is: ____________. My reason(s) is: (include example)
- This subject is easy/hard because:
- Draw a picture of what:
- class is like to you
- school means to you
- If you were teacher for a day, what subject would you enjoy teaching
- The best thing about school/home is
- The worse thing about school/home is
- 3 people I know and trust are (name & relationship):
- The staff person(s) at school who best understands me is: (list 1 or 2 people if possible)
- The character from a movie/tv show/book that I want to be like is:
- The character from a movie/tv show/book that best describes my life:
- What are 2-3 ways a teacher can be a good teacher to you?
- What are 2-3 things a teacher should avoid doing as your teacher?
Another type of feedback to have is how students learn best. There are many approaches to learning styles. Howard Gardner and Eric Jensen are widely known. I like to mix in Sternberg's Triarchic Theory on Multiple Intelligence and a few others, but that is for another post.
This movie clip shows the value of utilizing a varitey of learning experiences that incorporate learning styles for something as simple(?) as keeping a beat. Also consider the Zen conversation that Mr. Holland has with his Chess buddy. You need only watch for 6 minutes to get the point, although it's a great clip.
Mr. Hollands Opus -
Differentiating based on Understanding a student, and his needs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fTZcHACrqQ
Here are a list of resources that you may find far more useful than the list of sample questions I've provided. I've explored some more deeply than others, finding some great resources. This is to say as a disclaimer, please review a resource deeply and make your own decision about its value :)
Bon Appetit!
Survey resources
- Here's a pdf excerpt from Chapter 4 of Differentiated Instruction in the English Classroom. The principles and strategies in this excerpt are applicable to all content areas and grade levels. It provides different ways to get to know your students.
- I Want to Teach Forever: http://www.teachforever.com/2007/08/first-day-of-school-sample-student.html
- Sample 1 : http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfwg6ffr_4cjthtt
- Sample 2 : http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfwg6ffr_5fn5vx2
- A to Z Teacher Stuff: http://forums.atozteacherstuff.com/showthread.php?t=67431
- School Climate Survey: Could be adapted for classroom use. Intended for Elementary.
http://goal.learningpt.org/winss/scs/sampques.asp?survey=E
- Teachers at Risk on "9 Questions I ask my students on the first day of school"
http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/08/30/nine-questions-i-ask-my-students-on-the-first-day-of-school/
Learning Profile Surveys
- Find your strengths: May be used for secondary students
http://literacyworks.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html - What Is My Personal Learning Style? (Builds a visual graph based on each answer)
- 8 Multiple Intelligences Test
- Abiator's Online MI Assessment
- Assessment: Find Your Strength
- Helly Quizzy.com: MI Test
- Intelligence Survey
- Service Canada: Job Bank
- Birmingham Grid for Learning
- My Personality (free registration required)
- The Rogers Indicator of Multiple Intelligences
- Various Multiple Intelligence Tests (by Businessballs)
- "Does Your Child. . . " (For Parents)
- What's Your Learning Style? (By Edutopia)
- Discovering your SMARTS: A MI Checklist
- Multiple Intelligences Inventory (html version) (Click here for PDF version) from Surfaquarium
- Multiple Intelligences Test (by SPAN)
- Testing yourself: How Are You Smart? by Accellerated Learning Network
- Thomas Armstrong's Multiple Intelligences Checklist @ SUNY Courtland
- Word/Excel/PDF Format
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Relationships matter pt 2: "Listening to Voices"
Each year we are responsible for the learning success of a group of students. Whether they are on your attendance roster, or someone whose facial features is a silent cry for help, our calling as educators draws us to help. Yet this instinctive desire is often buried by the numerous tasks and pressures that compete in loud voices demanding attention.
Sometimes, as we scan students, noting with our instincts needs for support, we need to pause, mute everything else that shout demands, and
listen to the student.
In this video, what does the student struggle to communicate...in scene one,...two,...the rest of the video...
Think back on a student or students you're recently noticed concerns---a need to listen. Check in with that student, pause, mute external demands, listen...
What do you hear?
Sometimes, as we scan students, noting with our instincts needs for support, we need to pause, mute everything else that shout demands, and
listen to the student.
In this video, what does the student struggle to communicate...in scene one,...two,...the rest of the video...
What do you hear?
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Relationships Matter pt. 1 - Layers of a student
One year nears an exit and a new year--on the horizon--waits it's turn. It's a time for midyear reflection during a 2 week bubble that gives educators opportunity to recharge and retool. What will follow in the next couple of blog entries including images and/or videos to capture our thinking on what's best for all learners.
Thank you for your consideration...
New Boy is the winner of Best Narrative Short at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. It's about a boy's first day in a new school, and for the boy, a vastly different place. Consider the students new to your class after school starts, when culture is established. Consider how the boy's life story is a treasure chest that could enrich the lives of the boy, the other students, and the teacher--if you were her.
New Boy
Pause reading. How did the boy or other characters make you feel?
Tell yourself about an epiphany or affirmation you got about the importance of knowing students...
Every student has a back story. It can be the key needed to help them succeed where once they believed only laid failure, achieve where they didn't know there was more to uncover, and learn new talents and interests where they didn't know they had.
Learning about backstory is work that's worthwhile to student learning and liberates educators in uncovering more options for instructional support.
Thank you for your consideration...
New Boy is the winner of Best Narrative Short at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. It's about a boy's first day in a new school, and for the boy, a vastly different place. Consider the students new to your class after school starts, when culture is established. Consider how the boy's life story is a treasure chest that could enrich the lives of the boy, the other students, and the teacher--if you were her.
New Boy
Pause reading. How did the boy or other characters make you feel?
Tell yourself about an epiphany or affirmation you got about the importance of knowing students...
Every student has a back story. It can be the key needed to help them succeed where once they believed only laid failure, achieve where they didn't know there was more to uncover, and learn new talents and interests where they didn't know they had.
Learning about backstory is work that's worthwhile to student learning and liberates educators in uncovering more options for instructional support.
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