Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
This past week I had the opportunity to listen to Kansas teacher of the year, Dyane Smokorowski (picture on left), present about the various ways she makes her classroom unique. While I usually get antsy sitting through a 20 minute presentation, her 2 hour lecture gave me so many ideas to bring into the classroom that I was writing down every last bit of information I could get my hands on. To consolidate the information into simple terms, I have composed a list of steps in creating meaningful lessons for students:
1) Decide what you want your students to learn (an objective aligned with standards).
2) Figure out why it is important for your students to know this information.
3) Connect the material to real-life outside of the classroom or how the information affects others or their own lives.
4.) CHOICES! Give students a variety of unique choices in learning (power-points, essays, art, creating websites or videos, speeches, etc).
The main points that I took from her presentation was to allow students to make personal connections to information. To make lessons meaningful they have to connect to the students. Allowing students to think critically about the world around them and express how they feel may be exactly what they need. She also discussed choices. I cannot describe how intensely she highlighted this point. For our students to take control of their own learning and become excited about learning, we need to give them options. All our students are different and they all wish to express themselves in their own way. Giving them choices may give them the drive they need to develop their strengths and become the executive decision-maker in their own learning.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
