Conferencing with Students

A few weeks ago I flipped my classroom.

I sent out audio/visual lectures that were 10 minutes in length for my students to learn the content before we met. Then, instead of meeting as a class, we met in small groups. Throughout the semester I have been encouraging community in the classroom through group work so this worked out well.  Obviously the not meeting as a class could only work at the college level, BUT there are ways around this.  For instance, meeting with groups while others work individually.

Before my 20 minute conference sessions with each group, students were required to have watched the first lecture and read/annotate an article. This would be the article they would later write on.

During the conference, then, we briefly reviewed the content from the lecture and then moved on to applying what they had learned.

I got to work with students on their ACTUAL papers. This wasn’t theoretical. It was practical. The response from students was overwhelmingly positive. How this will affect my future classes, I don’t know, but I do look forward to the journey!

Visit http://flippedclassroom.org/ for more ideas on how to flip your classroom at any level with any subject!

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Smart Phones & Robot People

Edudemic recently published the post "A Visual Guide to Slowing Down The Distracted Generation".  I really love that they are recognizing the fact that not only are we as a population not reading as much but that technology has a lot to do with the problem.  

Unfortunately, we have lost the ability as a population to just sit and be.  This is something that I talk with my students about quite regularly.  I'll ask them, "How often do you just sit without watching TV or checking your phone?  How often do you go on a walk and not listen to music?"

We have adapted this crazy lifestyle where we have to be entertained at all times.  And what's really upsetting is that we have lost the ability to entertain ourselves.

Edudemic suggests that we "create passion for the written word" and "make reading fun" among other things.  Is it really that easy to create passion in someone else?  

A question that teachers have been asking themselves for generations is: 

How do we create intrinsic motivation?

Unfortunately I'm not sure if we truly can create a long-lasting intrinsic motivation.  However, as a teacher I'm willing to go for it.  

In general, I would argue that this all starts with open conversation.  We need to talk to our students and children. Ask them what they like and why they like it.  It's not good enough to just ask our students about their passions.  We must get to the root of why their passions are their passions. Probing them to think deeper about what they like and why they like it.

Asking questions like the ones below will help us to better understand them:

• What is it about ____ that you love so much?
• Tell me more about that.
• If you could describe your perfect day, what would it be?
• Why is that so enjoyable to you?

By simply asking questions, we can develop a meta-cognitive behavior in our students.  If we get them thinking and questioning, they will soon be able to take risks in their passions.  Hopefully we can keep them away from having a "device in hand at all times, hopping from shiny thing to shiny thing on the internet" as Katie Lepi mentions that we all do.

As a teacher, I of course care that they are reading.  I care more about their thinking, though.  Yes, reading affects thinking abilities but if they're not thinking on their own already, what's the point of reading?

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Dear Brownbag: Boiling Points

Dear Brownbag,

It drives me absolutely crazy when my students walk in to class without having done their homework. To me, it’s a blatant disregard for my authority. Even more so, it puts us behind schedule. Then I feel like I have to “tell them” all of the content to catch them up. I’ve tried pop quizzes and calling on them during discussion but I still feel my blood boil when they walk into class and I hear them telling each other “No I didn’t do it either.” What should I do?

-Boiling Points
______________________________________________________

Dear Boiling Points,

I get it. Trust me when I say we’ve all been welcoming our students into our classrooms with a smile when you overhear them talking about not doing their homework. It can be really irritating. There are two things to consider in this matter.

1) Your reactions: Don’t consider their actions as blatant attempts to hurt you because 99% of the time they are not. That being said, don’t get angry. Respond with grace and respect. Be kind to your students even when your natural human instinct tells you otherwise.

2) Your presence: How do you present yourself and class material/assignments in class? If there’s a hint of uncertainty in your voice, students subconsciously pick up on that. If you don’t think it’s important, they won’t. Instead, present all material with a spirit of excellence and the expectation that they will complete the assignments with that same spirit.

Frequently students will follow the leads of their teachers. Continue working on yourself and developing who you are as a teacher and you will find your students will be responsive to that.

-Brownbag

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Dear Brownbag: Bored Teacher

Dear Brownbag,

Sometimes I feel like I do the exact same thing in class everyday. As a teacher, I get bored. I do the same sorts of activities and I have the same format for my class everyday. Now I know that kind of regularity is good for my students, particularly those with learning disabilities, but it’s driving me crazy. I feel the itch to change it up but am not sure how to do it. Any suggestions?

-Teacher 
______________________________________________________________________

Dear Teacher,

I totally understand! Even though I am a person who thrives on routine, doing the same thing everyday drives me crazy. My suggestion, do one thing different every week. This can be trying a new activity or having class in a new location like the computer lab or library. It can even be doing the same activity in a different way. For example, if you silent read in class everyday, try it with partners where they summarize each page together. Having one thing different every week keeps it fresh for you.

I know it’s not about the teacher per se but keeping it fresh is what keeps you motivated and doesn’t burn you out! And that, ultimately, effects how you teach and how your students learn.

Brownbag


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Fake It Till You Make It

We've all heard the saying "fake it till you make it" before.  Usually we think of ourselves acting in one manner before we become who we actually dream ourselves to be.  I agree with this in many respects.  But why limit this to ourselves?  Why don't we expand this cliche to that which more often affects our lives.

The people around us.

In the book Spirit Driven Success, Dani Johnson uses "time tested Biblical secrets to create wealth while serving others."  The book itself offers great insight into how we can apply Biblical practices to our lives today... specifically in the business world.

In one section she talks about treating what we have as what we want.  She writes "You have to treat it as though it is already.  Do you not like your car, and therefore, you do not clean it?  It's dusty, it's trashed, there's stuff broken; you just don't care about it.  [God] is seeing how you are treating what He has already given you to determine whether or not you are getting promoted to the next level."

Often times we wish for different students.  Students who are more attentive.  Students who are interested in learning and aren't just grade-hungry.  Or we wish for new co-workers.  Maybe if my department was more interested in professional development, collaboration, etc. I would be happier in my position...in my department... in my current school.

~Let's change the paradigm of fake it till you make it.~

Imagine yourself being in the department of your dreams!  One that collaborates within the department and inter-departmentally.  Imagine yourself being challenged by your co-workers to be a better pedagogue and to be more well-versed in your content area.

Imagine that when you walk into your classroom your students are sitting at the edges of their seats in anticipation to hear what you have to say.  Imagine that when you preview the day's agenda that your students don't moan and grumble but they are excited and eager to work.

~Wouldn't this be wonderful?~

How would you treat your department members and students if this is how they were?  Take 5-10 minutes and visualize what that would look like in your life.  What behaviors would you demonstrate?  How would you talk to them?  In what ways would you react to questions or challenges?

This is how we should be acting already!  Change yourself first. Think about this every morning before work so that it becomes habit.  Set your day with intention.  After all, you are one constant in each of those children's lives!  No it won't change everyone around you, BUT it will change the way you interact with those around you.  AND it will make your days more pleasurable.

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Grading Fast!

If you’re looking through a stack of papers, keep these few tips to help keep your sanity and manage your time:
1. Reread the prompt - know exactly what skills you have expected of your students
2. Read through the entire essay without writing on it - yes! Put that pen down!
3. Make a final note - overall what strengths did you notice? What areas could they improve on? Write them a Dear X letter explaining and be specific.
4. Make marginal notes on the areas mentioned in your Dear X note - these will show students specific examples of what you mentioned! Try it out and let me know how it goes!

Feel free to tweet me @mac_ker or find me on Instagram @mackerby

Another Day Without Class...

Don’t let your students, or yourself, fall behind! Record a lecture or have them do some sort of a journal entry to send to you. Have them read up on current events. Anything to make sure that they don’t lose focus. There have been weeks where I’ve missed 3 days due to weather! But through audio/visual lectures, my students aren’t falling behind! Not an option :)