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First assessment The images below are of a student who took a test recently. The student did not pass the assessment and as a teacher I allow students to retake any assessment they are not happy with. However, before they do that they have to do corrections on the test with me, they have to schedule a time during lunch, or after school. Below are the corrections the student made with me during a lunch period. Finally, the student was allowed to retake the test by themselves. I take the grade that is better of the two assessments.
Student assessment is the data point sought after the most in from districts and administration. Whether teachers like it or not, assessments need to be taken seriously and we need to create validity in the results, so how can we do that? In my classroom I have students set up in teams of four, as you can see from the image to the left. In doing so I have created a very tempting environment for my students to take advantage of, even if they are the most honest student. However, I have spent time looking into the best method for my students. What I have found is that for assessment days that I need to change the arrangement of my classroom. This means that I move from team groupings to single rows of students. I also try my best to do all of my assessments on technology. While doing this I have utilized a few different applications to monitor my students work. I have used Apple Classroom, which allows me to monitor my students iPads. This app shows me a live image of their screens so that I can see where they may be struggling, or if they decide to go off assessment and search up information that they should not be on. The best part, as I have mentioned, is that it allows me to see when students may be struggling on a problem, and I can move over there without them feeling embarrassed to raise their hand, or for them to get up and disturb the rest of class, while potentially looking at other student's work when walking around the room.
I have heard my whole life "DO NOT WRITE ON YOUR DESK!!" and I always wondered why it was such a big deal. In my classroom I have taken that away, kind of. Students are allowed to write on any desk, as long as they use a whiteboard marker, and they clean it off at the end of the class period. I also tell students that they cannot just spend the class period drawing pictures. I know that students will inevitably draw something, but I just do not want students spending the whole time in math doing art class. Students love this aspect of my room. They always say how that their other teachers won't let them and that they love that they can do that in Mueller's room. At the end of the year I was surprised by students who had "graffitied" my teacher desk. Feels good!
What can we put on the wall? Is it just a wall or is it a canvas to encourage student learning? In my classroom I do my best to post helpful information for students. These are up year long, and help drive the conversation in the classroom, and give students direction on how they can solve complicated problems. The image below is the 5D process on how to help solve problems. Students can choose to utilize this process, or not, but it is always there for them to help.
In my classroom I utilize the minimal amount of space that I have to allow students to engage in cooperative learning. This is something that I have seen to be effective in teaching math. Students use the seating arrangement for their own personal development by having mathematics discourse through the class period. One time a student will know what the concept is well enough to teach his team, while maybe another he will struggle and the student sitting at his table will have an opportunity to share what they know about the concepts. Students working collaboratively is the #2 goal in my classroom, the first being that students are safe and can take risks.
Liberia Cultural Report I prepared this presentation about the culture of Liberia for two reasons. The first is that I was born in Liberia, Africa and this helps students understand a little about where I came from. Another reason I do this presentation for middle school, or high school, is to help students and faculty understand a bit more of the racial gap. This allows for teachers to hear, hopefully not the first time, that black male students are struggling and teachers are not reaching them. I chose this as an artifact due to the fact that teachers need to be support historically disenfranchised populations in their education so that the equity of education continues to change for the better. Lesson Plan: Dropping the Final E
I wrote this lesson plan specifically designed for English Language Learners. Students who may need extra help with handouts, visuals, graphic organizers, group work, or extra teacher support in the classroom. I believe that this identifies supporting student learnings well in the classroom due to the built in extra support for ELL students. Health Education Cross Curricular Lesson Plan I am utilizing this lesson plan as an example for TPE D because this specific lesson that I have created and used allows for students to work in multiple classrooms across the curriculum to develop their understanding of healthy living. This creates a unity in the teachers and better understanding because the students understand that teachers work together to provide learning experiences for their students and it emphasises important concepts. Student Collaboration:
Why I believe students working together is a better way for students to access learning. Literature Review: Prime Online: Exploring Teacher Professional Development for Creating Inclusive Elementary Mathematics Classrooms, by: Griffin, Dana, Pape, Algina, Bae, Prosser, and League Professional Development AB Day with Oak Grove School District
On October 8th, 2018 I was able to attend a professional development day with my school district that focused on the mental health of our students. This is my summary of learnings. |
AuthorMichael is a teacher in San Jose, California. He loves his wife, daughter, and playing soccer when he can. ArchivesCategories |