Developing a classroom that is focused on learning should be the goal of every teacher. Unfortunately, many teachers and administrators may mistakenly think that their classrooms already are. After all, what else can a classroom be focused on? Check out The Two Things Teachers Focus on Most Instead of Learning or see if your classroom has gotten confused by the difference between Objectives vs Obstacles of Learning. Take the $10,000 Challenge and see if you’re ready for Step 1.
Lets Talk About "Study Guides"
I wanted to share with you a story I heard the other day which frightened me greatly. Surely such a travesty of academic injustice is pure fiction and could never happen, yet I feel we should all be made aware in that these atrocities are rumored to be occurring around the country and we need to take precautions against them.
I recently heard through the grapevine that a teacher - one whom I greatly respect - was having a difficult time getting students to complete the study guide for an upcoming test. In response, he’s rumored to have opted to “give” completion
Step #6: Self-Care & Reflection for Learning
Teaching kids how to learn might be more important than anything else we teach them. Begin this process by requiring kids to look back on their learning and determine what worked for them and what didn’t. You’ll be amazed how honest they can be and how much their behavior changes.
Edunators Rebooted
In 2012, I gave a presentation at a state conference in Missouri entitled “The Hard Truth About Professional Learning Communities”. Its thesis was that for all the (very important) focus on creating collaborative, data driven schools utilizing shared leadership to provide research based, systematic interventions for students, we as educators cannot forget that our primary focus should be genuine learning. Identifying what it is we want students to know, determining whether they know it and how we will respond when they do or when they don’t...that is the fundamental work of educators as outlined by Rick DuFour and Robert Eaker
Step #5: Assessment for Learning
After you’ve accepted the challenge to ensure your classroom is focused on learning, hold yourself accountable to the idea by only including things in your gradebook that reflect the actual learning of content knowledge. Drawing on the work of Ken ‘O Connor, consider the Trouble with Grading and What’s In a Letter Grade.
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