let the kids do the teaching

Throughout our short geometry unit, we've had a big emphasis on vocabulary. After a lot of examining related words, the class wanted to make definition cards that we used to create a word wall. They all signed up for a couple of words and then used a Mix-Freeze to teach the words

After I posted all the words for the kids to see and asked them to make a T-chart. They wrote down at least five words they confidently understood and could explain in one column, with words they needed to know in the other. With a quick check as they walked out the door, I marked off all the words any kids were still confused about. Later, we looked at this list again and they "signed up" to teach one another:

I'm telling you, this is the easiest teaching ever. They decided on how they would teach the terminology, set it up, and then taught! They were taking notes, really listening to understand, and filling in the gaps before the unit progressed any further. 

I even said to the kids at the end that I felt useless in the class but was so happy to hear them communicating their understanding and taking ownership of their learning. Pretty good for final quarter craziness!

visible thinking

My professional goal this year has been to make Visible Thinking (as a form of documentation and through the use of routines) an organic part of the classroom. This has meant introducing and using pre-selected routines throughout the year: I emphasized five in the first semester and have introduced two new routines (so far) in this second semester. The reason for this is so the kids learn some ways to organize and develop their thoughts with guidance, the intention being that the routines are used independently when students are ready in a way that supports deeper thinking.

The great thing is: it's working! Some students use the See Think Wonder routine as a graphic organizer for pre-writing; some used the Think Puzzle Explore routine on a walking field trip we took to see how solar energy is transformed for use in our school; some used the Colour Symbol Image to respond to a short movie we watched in class. They use them! I could think of more instances when the kids have used these routines independently, without prompting, and that's the beauty of it. So now that they're more comfortable with a few routines and I see their thinking really starting to change - from surface level to so much deeper - offering more choice is only natural.

This semester we've been focusing on Chalk Talk, which is like a silent conversation on paper. This routine makes for a great interactive bulletin board for students outside your classroom, too! The Micro Lab Protocol is another, which promotes valuing ideas and reflecting on the thoughts of others. Focusing on collaboration and communication have become really important in our classroom culture, so it's a natural fit. More to come on how we've used this routine!

what have you learned most recently as a...

This is a question I posed to my class a few days ago.

It sits among evidence of our inquiry learning about Connections to the Natural World, with emphasis on energy sources and human impact on the earth.

The kids had some really interesting responses, ranging from reflections on themselves as researchers to specific content they've learned to generalizations about research itself.

For example:

I learned that the internet can be really frustrating.

There's lots of ways to research.

I learned that solar energy uses turbines, too, not just hydro.

Print resources are sometimes easier to find information in.

The great thing is that this can be adapted in so many ways!

What have you learned most recently ...

as a mathematician?

as a friend?

as a writer?

as a scientist?

at home?

from someone else?

Using this question frame, we've started examining our reading habits and interests, reflecting on what we've learned most recently as readers.

I'll post more on that soon, as there have been some really rich conversations in our room lately.

welcoming a student teacher

On Monday we have a student teacher joining our class for six weeks. The kids are pretty excited to have a second teacher (not too sure how to feel about that!) and were busily preparing some important things today to help her settle in!

Earlier in the week I asked what they think a new teacher to ISM might need. They had so many responses:

Each student signed up for a creation task.

And then they...

created a large map of the most important places she'll need to find while she's here

set up a tour to take her around

decided on some getting-to-know-you activities for Monday morning

tidied up a large desk area in the room for her, complete with a desk plate and pencil holder!

collected email addresses/phone numbers of teachers so she can get in touch with people while she's here

wrote a welcome note

made a large poster

made a brochure of all the places she should go while she's in the Philippines

wrote a list to fill her in on the learning we're knee deep in right now

created a special calendar and daily schedule so she can stay organized

and

collaborated to complete it all.

Looking forward to this teaching and learning journey!

critique & feedback

Such an inspiring video:

And aside from critique and feedback, so many other themes:
perseverance
goal-setting
revision
personal best
power of positive language
being specific
building excellence
beginning with the end in mind
...
...
...!

kindness.