After reading Grant Wiggins' "A Veteran Teacher Turned Coach", I had a huge eye opener. I always try to create lessons that get the students moving and collaborating. I also always try to include some sort of a discussion or questioning period, encouraging the students to participate. However, many days are spent just sitting and doing individual work. I like the ideas that the author suggested for creating a more engaging atmosphere. For example, setting a timer for her lectures helps to keep her on task and not get carried away. Also, allowing the students to walk in a write their questions on the board to start the class off is amazing!!! I think I want to steal this idea. The students can really benefit if they ask the questions and lead the discussion right away. That way, time is not wasted on ideas they already know, and time can be well spent discussing confusion or ideas. Sometimes as a teacher we forget how hard it is to be a teenage student. How boring it is to sit all day, and not have the desire to do any work. Also, many times these kids are in classes they do not like. At least in college we can pick what classes we want,when we want to take them and with who. High schoolers do not get that choice, and a majority of the time they are in a class they hate. I want to try to engage the students so that they all walk away feeling like my class was important.
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