It is hard to believe we are a month into our second semester of our second year - time flies!
I really feel as though I focused a lot this
month on critical inquiry learning and enthusiasm about showing what my
students have learned. I was excited to see the accomplishments they
have made and I was excited to see them proud of themselves for the
accomplishments they have made. I really want to continue on this path moving
forward because I think it sets the right kind of tone and it embraces the type
of learning I want to occur in my classroom. The inquisitive, excited, hands on
ah ha moments that really make learning fun for my students. I also realized
that there are some attitudes that need to be addressed in the class in
order for me to keep my sanity and for
my students to feel as though they have a voice in the room. I want to make
sure that I am giving them this opportunity which is why I am excited about my
note drop box where students will have the opportunity to write what’s on their
mind – whatever it is – and then hopefully we can address it as a whole. I am
also looking forward to continuing to build connections with my students so that
I can understand them individually better.
I think that I am going to continue to keep
doing the type of teaching/learning that has been working well and I also think
that I am trying to put a few ideas in place that will really help my students
feel as though they are being heard and they do have a voice and that I do care
about them individually. When I have lessons that are engaging and matter to the students it is amazing the type of day we as a class can have. I realize that the more I work with them and the more we build relationships as a class the better things ultimately will be.
As much as I hate to admit it I have done a
lot of thinking after reading Friere. I also try to constantly think
back to our math and science courses about the ways to teach hands on learning
in math and science and what that looks like and means for our students. I also
feel as though I am slowly starting to put everything together and am
personally starting to have that ah ha moment where I realize everything I have
been trying to do and what is actually happening in my classroom. That by no
means I am doing things perfectly even a fraction of the time but I at least am
starting to feel like I may belong here.
I think it
really all comes down to knowing and understanding your students and what
works for them and what doesn’t. It is partly a trial and error game that we have to play but I know and
see the importance of it which is why I don’t want to give up. I just need to continue getting to know my
students and what matters to them. Once I know what matters to them I can
make sure I incorporate that into the lessons and my management and ultimately that
is my end goal. I am anxious to see how our last few months together go.
These are some great thoughts, Kelsey! I am personally very proud of you for thinking about Freire -- as one might expect, he is often on my mind ;). I love the way that you are critically thinking about your "theoretical framework" (lol) and the teaching and learning that is going on in your classroom. I think it's awesome that you're not only thinking about the way that YOU are doing things (like presenting material, planning fun lessons), but you're mainly thinking about the way that your kids receive everything that you do and say.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the note drop box -- I read something like that in the Morning Meeting Book where you have a jar and people write down problems that they want the whole class to try to solve. The focus is on collective problem solving -- sounds like a great routine to start doing. I don't have a routine set up in my classroom like that, and it happens sporadically, but I might start doing that! Thanks for the inspiration :)
Hi Kelsey! I was looking over your shoulder in class last night and saw your PowerPoint for the an activity. I was so incredibly impressed and thought, "dang, that's some inquiry based learning right there." Reading your reflection for this month makes me realize this has been a huge focus in your classroom. That's amazing and I am so happy that your students are having that type of learning experience. I feel like relationships with your students have become really, really important to you this year and it seems like the time you are putting into them is beneficial for you and your students.
ReplyDeleteI second what Margaret said! It looked like so much fun. I wanted to come be a part of Ms. Mitman's class! The inquiry and problem solving has got your kids excited and that's such an amazing feeling. I love that you are starting to feel more confident as a teacher and really find your niche. I think that has been a big part for me over the last month as well.
ReplyDeleteI, too, have been thinking more about Freire since having read it even though I didn't think that I was going to initially. I have been thinking about some of the structures that I have in place in my classroom and the things that I say to my students and how those might be oppressive or lead to me taking too much control.
ah ha moment for me as well as I was reading your blog!
ReplyDeleteDOESN'T IT ALL MAKE SENSE NOW?? now we are finally putting all the pieces of the puzzle together!
The final piece of the puzzle was reading Pedagogy of the Oppressed...what our coaches have been trying to lead us to by helping us grapple with what working alongside our community means...now makes total sense.
I agree with everything you say here, but I am just going to comment on a few points.
I also try to think a lot about what we learned and experienced during our math and science courses, and wonder how can I create more student centered activities, that are hands on learning, engaging enough, and are exposing the kids to enduring understandings of the different content areas. I still struggle with this, and I think that part of it is that I hate the standards that we have to teach (especially in science) and I find them so irrelevant, that I myself lack interest!
I completely agree with your conclusion that it all comes down to knowing and understanding our students, and what works for them. This makes me think a lot about what Margaret's comment was on differentiation. I also see a trend between both of your blogs and a focus on understanding ..."what matters to them", "what matters to us" and "what really matters."
Thank you so much for this read, it really got me thinking about what matters to me, what do I still need to think about and work on instructionally, and it is helping me make sense of all the things we have learned through this past year and a half of literature, lectures, and experiences, and how everything is coming all together!
Kelsey,
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of having a note drop box. I tried having one my first year teaching, and soonafter decided to stop using it. Kids were taking advantage of it, writing inappropriate things, and just misusing it. Reading your post makes me think about why that was happening-- was it truly a bad idea like I concluded back then or had I not implemented it in a way that set them up for success with it? I would love to try it again now that I'm teaching an older grade, where they are actually pretty good at writing notes :) and now that I have a class where respect and community has been established. I also now know that there are several things I would need to do to prep my students to use it, instead of just throwing it in the mix. Thanks for mentioning this!
I, too, have been thinking a lot about Freire's writing. Each time I revisit his writing I am inspired to make changes in my classroom. I'm thrilled that the things you've been inspired to do in your classroom are showing promise! There's nothing more discouraging than getting hype about something new in your classroom and having It crash and burn. I'm so glad you are feeling encouraged and excited about the space you are in with your kids.
Sounds like you are having some really awesome moments with your kids. I've come to the same realization that I have to get to know my students better and figure out what they are really into to foster their learning. Even after we read the readings for our online course, I realize how important it is to foster a hands on active learning environment for our students, especially our minority boys. I'm still waiting on that "ah ha" moment in the class but I know if I continue to build those relationships with my kids and make learning fun for them, that moment will surely come. :)
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