https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn en-us 2019-02-04 14:20:34 UTC 2026-01-25 18:54:07 UTC hello@padlet.com heidi_hellmuth https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327307328 Sitting In Desks All Day]]> 2019-02-04 14:24:37 UTC https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327307328 heidi_hellmuth https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327314361 Teaching Without Differentiation]]> 2019-02-04 14:35:46 UTC https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327314361 heidi_hellmuth https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327314947 This article illustrates how different students learn via different learning pathways. We as teachers need to understand that the same approach is not going to reach all students the same way. We are doing our students a disservice if we fail to differentiate to meet their learning styles.

Connections: When we do not teach in a way that follows that student's learning pathway, they may decide that the material is simply too difficult. We have all seen a student who has shut down because they believe that the work is too hard, and that response actually stems from the same part of the brain as "fight or flight": the amygdala. 

Implications for Classroom: Differentiation is not just a buzzword. It is necessary and key to our students' success. It is difficult to recover a student from that "fight or flight" shut down, so we need to make sure that they feel appropriately challenged, but far from hopeless.]]> 2019-02-04 14:36:44 UTC https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327314947 heidi_hellmuth https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327354866 Differentiated learning! The movement towards Blended Learning is a great step towards allowing students to follow their unique learning paths. I use small-group instruction, stations, and playlists to allow for some student agency and differentiation.]]> 2019-02-04 15:37:34 UTC https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327354866 heidi_hellmuth https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327360209 Emphasis on Grades]]> 2019-02-04 15:46:13 UTC https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327360209 heidi_hellmuth https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327360520 To summarize the main points of the article:
1. Grades tend to reduce students’ interest in the learning itself.
2.  Grades tend to reduce students’ preference for challenging tasks.
3. Grades tend to reduce the quality of students’ thinking.
4. Grades aren’t valid, reliable, or objective.
5. Grades distort the curriculum.
6. Grades waste a lot of time that could be spent on learning.
7. Grades encourage cheating.
8. Grades spoil teachers’ relationships with students.
9. Grades spoil students’ relationships with each other.

I particularly resonated with this article. My students, 6th and 7th graders, are fixated on their grades. For the most part, they do not care about the learning itself, but care instead about figuring out the quickest way possible to that coveted "A". 

I also struggle a lot with the loss of time spent chasing down students to fix grades, or general fussing about specific percentages/points/etc. If I didn't have to spend that time in this manner, we could go so much deeper into the material.

Connections: The additional pressure of achieving their desired grade shifts student focus away from the material at hand. This places any information that they do glean from the material most likely into the short-term memory, fit only for repetition into a test and then quickly dismissed. 

Implications for the Classroom: Students need to see the learning as valuable for what it is, not what grade it can earn them. I should strive to incorporate more lessons and activities that perhaps shift the attention away from the grade, and more onto the mastery of skills.]]> 2019-02-04 15:46:41 UTC https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327360520 heidi_hellmuth https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327364419 No grades (or less emphasis on them). In our current environment, I know that I could not get out of assigning grades for student work throughout the term for report cards. However, I have already been making an effort to not grade every little thing. As we go through a skill set, I will try to choose a beginning, middle, and end point to grade in order to show student growth. This has been working pretty well so far, and students have stopped asking me "will this be graded?" ]]> 2019-02-04 15:53:14 UTC https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327364419 heidi_hellmuth https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327368280 Not Allowing Brain-Breaks]]> 2019-02-04 15:59:37 UTC https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327368280 heidi_hellmuth https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327580395 Flexible seating! I have found so much success in transitioning into a flexible seating arrangement in my classroom this year. I have added a small "comfy corner" to my room, as well as a variety of throw pillows and rugs to my classroom. Most of the time, the kids would honestly just prefer to sprawl out on the floor to work. I see a lot less fidgeting, and the kids who do still fidget are sitting somewhere somewhat removed from those who prefer the quiet structure of a typical desk, so it is less disruptive. I love letting my students be comfortable, because then we can focus more on the learning!]]> 2019-02-04 23:28:55 UTC https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327580395 heidi_hellmuth https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327580567 Giving our students moments to breathe. Allowing for brain-breaks at times besides lunch and gym. For middle-schoolers, they need time to decompress, move around, etc., in order to stay sane. I would love to try starting each class with even just a minute or two of breathing, similar to the Take 5 practice, just to see what changes could occur to the climate of the class! Also could take the form of sustained silent reading time at the beginning or end of class.]]> 2019-02-04 23:29:56 UTC https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327580567 heidi_hellmuth https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327585889 Standardized Testing]]> 2019-02-04 23:57:28 UTC https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327585889 heidi_hellmuth https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327585939 Allowing for a more organic flow to learning. Teaching to the test does not always give the flexibility to pace learning with your students' needs. Hard deadlines and testing windows make everything have to fall into these neat little time frames, and that doesn't always happen. Content that is not featured as prominently in the tests is thrown to the wayside in favor of focusing on the featured content. However, this does not mean that it is any less valuable for students to learn. ]]> 2019-02-04 23:57:47 UTC https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/327585939 theresa_steele1 https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/329492087 2019-02-09 14:43:40 UTC https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/329492087 cathleen_kazio https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/329660704 I agree that there is way too large of an emphasis on grading for our kids.  It really takes away from the kids taking risks.  I also feel that it adds stress to the kids who are always on "top" to stay there.  It creates anxiety in our kids when it does not need to be there.  I also think it takes away from the joy of learning.


]]> 2019-02-10 21:36:36 UTC https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/329660704 katherine_kelley1 https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/329930290 Allowing for brain breaks can make a huge difference.  My classes are way more successful when I allow students breaks throughout.  Some teacher's believes that breaks waste precious class time, but it actually allows the students to be able to re-focus and accomplish more within that class period. ]]> 2019-02-11 15:58:16 UTC https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/329930290 MissLynn https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/330135957 Several teachers at my elementary school are really embracing the alternative seating and work spaces with rugs, bean bags, sofas, low tables, etc. In the Media Center I have 4 standing desks that kids really like and I have a set of seats that can wobble. I think that it would be easier to institute different work spaces in a classroom where kids spend most of their day. In the Media Center I see the classes once a week for 40 minutes of which 15 minutes are for book selection where students are moving around. ]]> 2019-02-11 23:34:16 UTC https://padlet.com/heidi_hellmuth/r7cqkm6r2vrn/wish/330135957