If They'd Only Do Their Work!

We will be viewing sections of an article in the Educational Leadership magazine put out by ASCD.  The title of the article is If They'd Only Do Their Work.  The article examines homework, motivation and research behind why students don't do homework.  It is a rather long article.  I will break it up into a few different blog posts with some questions.  Click here to read the section for this post.

Here is the link to the article:  http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb06/vol63/num05/If-They'd-Only-Do-Their-Work!.aspx

Questions to consider:
1.  How does the following, research backed,  quote relate to you or your classroom?  "Students who do best in school are often those most adept at figuring out what the teacher wants (McCombs & Whisler, 1997).'
2. The article talks about students working across grade levels. How does that happen in our building? What other ways could it happen?
3. "Collaboration is Key" What ways do we allow for collaboration for adults in our building? What are some new/different ways we can do that?

What to Remember About Feedback

Feedback:
Check out this graphic.

Feedback is essential to student growth and acquisition.  Over time how feedback is given has changed.  I often see technology being used in our building for feedback.  In even more cases, I see our staff talking with students and giving feedback....meaningful feedback...how great is that.

Questions to Consider:
1.  Feedback should answer a question like this "How are we doing trying to achieve our intended outcome?"  Does your feedback address questions like this?
2.  This statement is made on the linked document "Feedback a student can give a teacher is more important than the feedback a teacher can give a student."  How does this apply to your classroom?  Do you take feedback from your students?
3.  "When we give a grade with our feedback, the students routinely only read as far as the grade."  What does this mean to you?

Encouraging Innovation

I came across this article on the ASCD website about innovative thinking in the classroom.  It was a quick read that made me think about a few things.  Below are the innovative thinking tips for the different content areas.

To me, innovation in another way of thinking about solving problems.  It is becoming more and more important that students leave us being able to solve problems in the real world...common sense.

Figure 1. The Innovation Process

Brainstorm possible needs or problems and ways to respond.

1. Evaluate ideas to decide which idea is most worth pursuing.
2. Identify steps in the process to produce the modification or improvement.
3. Identify enablers and disablers of the idea.
4. Reflect on the results of the innovation in order to determine if it is complete or needs to be modified.

Figure 2. Innovation Activities Across Content Areas

• Literacy
  • Create an innovation that would improve a character's life.
  • Create an innovative way to improve communication between two characters.
  • Develop an innovative way to solve the problem in the story.
  • Suggest an innovative way for the main character to take a risk.
• Math
  • Determine an innovative way to remember math facts.
  • Design an innovative system of measurement.
  • Create an innovative way to demonstrate parallel operations using scale and manipulative.
  • Determine an innovative way to demonstrate place value.
• Science
  • Identify an innovative way to reduce pollution.
  • Develop an innovative way to continue space exploration.
  • Determine an innovative solution to compensate for the loss of a sense.
  • Create an innovative space object using at least two characteristics.
• Social Studies
• Create an innovative solution to a problem in our community.
• Describe an innovative solution to the concept of scarcity.
• Create an innovative way to celebrate a national holiday.
• Develop an innovative form of transportation that will be beneficial to society.
• http://www.ascd.org/ascd-express/vol11/1109-drapeau.aspx

Questions to Consider:

1.  How important is innovation in the 21st century learner?

2.  Do you encourage innovation in your classroom, possibly without even thinking about it?

3.  Can you incorporate the ideas above in any way?

Power Of A Positive Educator

The next few blog posts for us will feature short video clips from Jon Gordon (@JonGordon11).

Click here to view the clip from Jon Gordon titled “The Power Of A Positive Educator”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUlHrwmOh6Y

Questions to Consider

1. Will someone want to email you 27 years from now?
2. What stories will your students be telling about you?  What role do you want?
3. Think of a practical way/real life application to helping someone become a hero.

NO Energy Vampires

The next few blog posts for us will feature short video clips from Jon Gordon (@JonGordon11).

Click here to see the video clip titled “No Energy Vampires Allowed”

Questions to Consider

1. Have you ever thought about fear vs. faith
2. Do you have Energy Vampires in your life?  Are they close to you?
3. Could you post a sign like Jon Gordon talks about in your room/office?

“Our positive energy has to be greater than all the negativity and doubts.”