Discussion
Report Discussion as Inappropriate / SpamLots of Contents, Lots of Standards so Little time
The other thing that I have done is outline epochs (or in US decades). I then open time up for students to research what interests them. I do this through having students create their own museums of history either by Powerpoint or by webpage. They then present to the rest of the class. It has worked really well.
August 14, 2006, 12:00 am [ report as inappropriate ]Hello hello. I'm new to this whole teachade site, and new to teaching in general. I just finished up student teaching, and will have my own 7th grade social studies/language arts classroom this year. I like your idea of having the students take ownership for their education by giving them the opportunity to choose their topic... How do you allow this freedom, while also providing the necessary support for diverse learners, such as my students, who are reading between the 1st and 6th grade level? Do you have lesson plans, with accomodations? And suggestions, in the event that powerpoint technology or know-how is unavailable? Thanks. And feel free to give me any pointers in terms of how to navigate this site! For all I know, the answers to my questions might be just a click away:)
-Nikki
Nikki-
Thanks for the question. In terms of the site is is rapidly being refined and added to. Using the search tool at the top on the homesite is a great place to start. You can search for groups, lesson plans, etc.
In answer to your query about student ownership, it is what actually frees you up to supporting different kids in different situations. What I did at my school was to embrace the IEP concept (Individualized Educational Plan from Spec ED) throughout my class. You can choose to be a stand and deliver, bell curve kimd of teacher or be a student centered IEP (I call it ILP Individualized Learning Plan) kind of teacher. Consider this...take the standards for your class for world history. Break them into controlling questions (or topics) for students to study. You can then build class research projects or portfolios for them to study. Kids can support each other. You can use the school library if your kids can't access the web. ( Another cool resource I found was when Libraries dumped old sets of magazines and enclyclopedias, I horded them as a research place in my classroom.
If technology is available, there are boatloads of websites. Highschoolace.com is a good jumping off place. They have links to other sites hat may be more school age appropriate. The Center for Civic education has free materials on the study of the Constitution. You might be able to get both the elementary and middle text. Different reading levels, same concepts. There are also lots of publishes with low level high interest novels and academic material that you can either preuse, purchase or borrow.
As a new teacher, understand that this will not be polished perfect the first year. You will refine and refine, learnin from your mistakes. That's what makes teaching fun
regards
Fred
23.01.21.03.10.52 © 2024 Pearce, LLC
For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser.
Hi Fred:
August 10, 2006, 12:00 am [ report as inappropriate ]I think you're asking a fantastic question. Here's one possible answer and I'm thinking aloud: Instead of teaching specific events, perhaps you want to identify major themes that have existed throughout this historical period. You could then help the students understand the themes by pointing to the way that they impacted each event. I suspect that if you are specific enough about what you want students to learn regarding each theme, and this specificity would come from the standards, then it would be easier to fit everything in. I think this requires a lot more though, but it's just an idea.
Another statement supporting the use of themes: How much of any one particular event are students going to remember after your course has finished? If you teach major themes, hopefully they'll remember these themes and simultaneously develop important skills.
Push me further on this, please.