https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v by Christine MacDonald en-us 2016-11-12 23:05:12 UTC 2023-02-05 08:12:34 UTC hello@padlet.com cmacd https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137158942 Our very first lesson in this class was that students "buy into the teacher before they buy into the class". To me this means that student engagement is one of the most critical aspect of teaching. Students can and will learn anything if they are involved and engaged enough, regardless of material. All of us have been in classrooms where we are simply spoken at. Our teachers in those classes did not use classroom management strategies to engage their students, and as a result they likely found that their students did not perform as well as they would have liked. This resource provides an excellent look into students' own perspectives on what engages them. With each changing generation, it will be important to recognize that the engagement strategies that worked for previous groups may not work as time moves on. As teachers we must be flexible and open to changing our approaches. ]]> 2016-11-12 23:07:11 UTC https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137158942 cmacd https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137159015 Rodd Lucier's take on the Western Active Learning Space is a great example of how technology can be extremely useful and beneficial to classroom settings. Students learn in a variety of ways, and in today's world chalk and talk might not be enough to engage and teach all students effectively. I have personally been in the WALS classroom and it was truly revolutionary. In a smaller class setting, this highly interactive interface system would be especially beneficial for students who are visual and kinaesthetic learners. I especially like that the teacher has a central platform, so that all students have equal auditory and visual access to the teacher (as opposed to students with vision or hearing impairments needing to sit close to the board, and not where they would perhaps learn best). ]]> 2016-11-12 23:10:36 UTC https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137159015 cmacd https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137159038 This blog post gave me a lot to think about. I originally agreed with the "there are no bad students, only bad teachers" thinking, but I believe I have been influenced by what Steve Brown had to say. Just as there are "bad" singers, "bad" cooks or "bad" golfers, "bad" students must exist as well. I don't think Steve Brown uses "bad" as "evil" or "mean spirited" in his post (that they are bad people), but rather that he means that in a norm-referenced evaluation, these students do not meet the standards a teacher would hope for them in terms of their learning skills. They are not well-equipped to be students. The good news with this is that a good teacher will be able to meet them where they are and help them to practice the skills to become proficient. As a future French language teacher, I liked how Brown tied in the language specific types of "bad" students. His way of dealing with each type was well organized and very clear. It shows why it is important to get to know your students; You must do so to know how to teach them!]]> 2016-11-12 23:11:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137159038 cmacd https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137159331 This topic has been essential for my classroom management learning. Learning not to take students' behaviour personally will help teachers to both handle situations better, and lessen the stress that would inevitably ensue by thinking that they helped cause the behaviour. Every (or nearly every) behaviour situation can be handled or prevented with effective classroom management. I found this list of "sabotages" a great instructional resource of how I can manage my classroom. I have already tried some of these strategies in my babysitting position for handling behaviours and have found it helpful in reducing stress!]]> 2016-11-12 23:22:20 UTC https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137159331 cmacd https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137159354 As we saw with the WALS classroom example, the environment in which the students are learning can play a large role in the effectiveness of the instruction. This has a lot to do with student engagement. My guest lecturer spoke about how she let her class design and decorate their classroom to see what functioned best for them. She found it to be effective, as the students felt like they had a say in their education and were thus more motivated to participate in instruction. The environment is the "third teacher" when it is adaptable and fluid towards the needs of the class, just like teachers must be. ]]> 2016-11-12 23:23:24 UTC https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137159354 cmacd https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137159472 When the main focus in our classrooms is always the students and their needs, it can be easy to get caught up and forget about our own. We have all been told that teaching (while a very rewarding career) can be a higher stress occupation, especially if we are taking care to ensure the success of all our pupils. The fact is that teachers are only human and are susceptible to all the same stresses and personal issues that affect students. It is important for teachers to take the time to evaluate their own mental health and well-being so that we live up to our teaching potential and most importantly lead fulfilling lives outside of our careers. I was very reassured to see this as the topic for our reading week, because I believe that this is a subject often overlooked. The document I have attached is a comprehensive and relieving read on what teachers can do to benefit their own health. ]]> 2016-11-12 23:29:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137159472 cmacd https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137159528 Whoever thought that Jack Black could be a role model for positive leadership? This scene from "School of Rock" may be scripted and performed by actors, but it is clear that the character is a great example of leading students in an engaging way. We can see that this type of leadership is not about giving instructions, making decisions or delegating tasks, but allowing students to experiment in their learning while giving positive feedback and encouragement. As Orrin Woodward said, "...great leaders inspire others to raise their own bars." Mr. Finn (Black) demonstrates the tasks simply, but then lets the students take charge, allowing them to "raise the bar" themselves. ]]> 2016-11-12 23:31:38 UTC https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137159528 cmacd https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137159572 As the old phrase goes, it takes a village to raise a child. Teachers spend a lot of time with parents' children, and might even be just as familiar with those very children. Teachers and parents should collaborate and communicate with each other so that parents are involved in the education of their children, and so that learning (not just curricular, but emotional and behavioural education) can continue at home. ]]> 2016-11-12 23:33:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137159572 cmacd https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137567951 In the book The Differentiated Classroom by Carol Ann Tomlinson, chapter 9 deals with the various ways that teachers can use their classroom management skills to support multiple learning styles. It shows us that there is no "correct way" to approach teaching or learning, and that everyone benefits from differentiation. ]]> 2016-11-14 22:03:17 UTC https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137567951 cmacd https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137570159 Chapter Seven from Bennet and Rolheiser talks about the benefits of collaboration, or cooperative learning. In our classes, we have learned multiple classroom management strategies that help students to engage with each other and learn collectively. This means that students are highly involved and participatory. This concept map is a great visual for learning about the theory behind cooperative learning, as well as how to begin implementing it into the classroom. ]]> 2016-11-14 22:16:56 UTC https://padlet.com/cmacd/z2z4xwwlb81v/wish/137570159