Instructional Strategies in the Middle School Classroom What Works Best for You? Poll Discussion PollEv.com/amandabiffer608
What types of instructional strategies did your teachers use in middle school or junior high? Discussion What instructional strategies did you really benefit from in middle school? Discuss what instructional strategies work well for middle school students.What worked well for you? Meeting Students Needs
What do middle school students need in order to learn? Physical developmental needs Cognitive developmental needs Emotional developmental needs Special needs Differentiated Instruction Multiple Intelligences Tie back to Mondays lesson. Multiple Intelligences
Verbal-Linguistic: Learning through spoken or written words; reading, listening, speaking, and writing Examples: debates, presentations, writing journals, reading, discussion Mathematical- Logical: Learning through reasoning and problem solving; numbers Examples: problem solving, measuring, critical thinking, playing logic games Brain Teaser Activity Brain Teasers What can travel around the world while staying in a corner? A stamp What has 6 eyes but cannot see? Three blind mice You throw away the outside and cook the inside. You eat the outside and throw away the inside. What did you eat? Corn on the cob Multiple Intelligences Cont.
Bodily/Kinesthetic: learning through interaction with ones environment: concrete experiences Examples: hands- on experiments, creative movement, field trips, cooperative group work Intrapersonal (within self):Learning through feelings, values, and attitudes: understand other people as well as your own interior thoughts Examples: personal response, individual projects, independent reading Multiple Intelligences Cont.
Interpersonal: Learning through interactions with others; working collaboratively and cooperatively Examples: peer editing, cooperative learning, group work, brainstorming, sharing Naturalist: Learning through classification, categories, and hierarchies: ability to pick up on subtle differences, in tune with nature Examples: reading outside, identifying plants, using a microscope, dissecting, building a garden Multiple Intelligences Cont.
Musical: Learning through songs, patterns, rhythms, instruments, and musical expression Examples: rapping, playing background music, tapping out poetic rhythms, rhyming, singing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTdmSLNWEUI Visual- Spatial: Learning visually and organizing ideas spatially: think in images and pictures and see things in ones mind Examples: graphing, making visual analogies, using charts, graphic organizers Multiple Intelligences Cont.
Existentialist: Poses and ponders questions about life, death, and ultimate realities; learns by seeing the big picture Examples: Choice of activity, independent work Discussion What types of multiple intelligences did you experience in middle school? Take a test: Use the information for planning instruction Does every student learn the same way? Tie back to Monday Differentiation The planning and delivery of classroom instruction that considers the varied levels of readiness, learning needs, and interests of each learner in the class. How can you differentiate? Adapt content and complexity of the lesson for specific learners Change how you deliver instruction Incorporate multiple intelligences Vary ways of assessing students Projects, portfolios, essays On Tuesday we learned about curriculum and assessment.How can we use differentiation in curriculum and assessment? Discussion Yesterday we learned about Understanding by Design.How does that relate to differentiation and instructional strategies? Stage 3- Plan learning experiences and instruction Teacher-Centered Learning vs. Student-Centered Learning
Name some differences that you already know about teacher-centered and student-centered learning. Poll: Do you prefer teacher-centered or student-centered learning? Teacher-Centered Learning
Focus is on the teacher Instructor talks while the students are expected to listen Knowledge is transmitted from the teacher to the students Students work alone Instructor chooses topics Instructor evaluates student learning Teaching and evaluating are separate (from charts) Teacher-Centered Learning Cont.
Classroom is expected to be quiet Assessment is used to monitor learning Emphasis is on correct answers Desired learning is assessed through scored tests Focus is on a single discipline Classroom is competitive Only students are viewed as learners Teacher-Centered Learning Concepts
Teaching Goals Cover the discipline Organization of the curriculum Courses in a catalog Course Structure Faculty cover all topics How Students Learn Listening Reading Independent Learning Course Delivery Lecture Assignments and exams as assessments Effective Learning Teach what you know and those who can will learn what you present to them Chart: Pros and Cons of Teacher-Centered Learning
Classroom is orderly and the teacher will be in full control of the classroom due to the students remaining quiet. Communication skills may lack in some students because since they work alone, they do not get to collaborate with others in the class. Since students are responsible for learning on their own, they also learn to be independent and make their own decisions. Teacher-centered learning can get boring for students. This may cause them to not pay attention, and then they may miss key concepts. Students dont have to worry about missing an important topic because the teacher directs everything. Teacher-centered learning doesnt allow students to ask questions, express themselves, or be in charge of their own learning. Student-Centered Learning
Focus is on the students and the teacher and they learn things together Teacher will demonstrate something and then the students will interact with both the teacher and other students Students are actively involved in everything happening in the classroom Assessments are used to promote learning Desired learning is assessed through papers, projects, portfolios, etc. Classroom culture is cooperative, collaborative, and supportive rhttp://assessment.uconn.edu/docs/TeacherCenteredVsLearnerCenteredParadigms.pdf Student-Centered Learning Concepts
Teaching Goals Students learn how to use the discipline, how to integrate disciplines to solve problems, and learn core learning objectives such as communication and literacy skills Organization of the Curriculum Programs that allow opportunities for the students to synthesize, practice, and develop complex skills, ideas, and values Course Structure Students master learning objectives How Students Learn Integrating new knowledge by using what they already know Learning is seen as a cognitive and social act Course Delivery Active learning with assignments for formative purposes Collaborative, cooperative, problem-based, self-directed, and community service learning Effective Learning Engage students in their learning and help them master the learning objectives Student-Centered Learning Pros and Cons
Students learn communicative and collaborative skills by working in groups. The classroom can get chaotic and noisy with all the students talking. Students become more interested in learning when they are able to work in groups and participate actively. The teacher must manage all of the students activities at once, and if students are at different stages of the activity, it can be difficult for the teacher to keep up. Students learn to direct their own learning. Students may miss important facts since the teacher doesnt deliver instructions to all of the students at once. Students learning to ask questions and express themselves. Some students like to work alone, so working in groups can be a problem for them. Flipped Classroom What is it?
The flipped classroom is a pedagogical model in which the typical lecture and homework elements of a course are reversed Pros and Cons of a Flipped Classroom
Students learn at their own pace Teachers stay on track Better student engagement Differentiation Schools reduce paper use Lack of digital resources Reliance on student motivation Teachers need multiple sets of eyes Technology in the Classroom
Discussion What are some pros and cons of using technology according to the middle school students at P.J. Jacobs? Places emphasis on student rather than teacher Examples: iPads SMART boards Computers Technology Workshop Split up into two groups and interact with each app. ShowMe App Book Creater App Varied Instruction Direct Instruction Indirect Instruction
Experiential Learning Independent Study Interactive Learning Direct Instruction Teacher-directed
Commonly used in the middle school setting Explicit Teaching Ex. Lecture, drills, and practice Indirect Instruction Student-Centered
Students seek to DISCOVERknowledge Students draw conclusions from information they find themselves Often called: Inquiry, induction, problem solving Examples: Debates, panels, brainstorming, research, and simulations Importance of Research
Teaching students how to research as early as first grade The greatest advantage of starting research at an early age is the students wont tire of it (Landreau, 57) Landreau, Janice. "Research: Why Wait Till High School?." Phi Delta Kappan 92.6 (2011): Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 June 2015. Begin research at an early age so that students can learn how to do it.It can be as simple as having a first grader pick out a book on topic he/she is interseted in, and put sticky-notes on pages that contains important information.Research should be fun!Teach students how to research early on and have them gain skills such as using the computer and different resources to find information. By the time the students are in middle school, research will be nothing new to them. Interactive Learning Discussion and sharing among participants
Students develop social skills, the ability to organize their thoughts, and the ability to develop rational arguments Examples: Debates Panels Role Playing Problem solving Think, Pair, Share Discussion Collaborative Learning Debate Activity One team is going to support the schools decision to suspend Ashley Payne for having a picture of her drinking alcohol on Facebook. The other team is going to defend Ashley and refute the suspension. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMR_xLNdy38 Experiential Learning
Learning done through participating in the context being learned rather than talking or reading about the topic Examples Games Models Exhibits Simulations Experiential Learning Cycle
David Kolb Published in 1984 Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience. -David Kolb Independent Study Focuses on the development of individual student initiative, self-reliance, and self-improvement Planned independent study under the guidance or supervision of a classroom teacher Examples: Reports Essays Journals Homework Research assignments Scenario Workshop Students will be put into five groups.
Each group will come up with a few instructional strategies for their students. Project-Based Learning
A teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to a complex question, problem, or challenge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waKZQ9gaBkI Workshop Groups of 3 or 4 Pick a topic (examples include World War I, the Holocaust, or the Olympics) Come up with Project-Based Learning ideas for Math Social Studies/History Science English One class of your choice Examples Music Physical Education Art Elective such as Woodworking Make sure to keep the same main topic throughout all of the classes! Get in groups of 3 or 4. Once in your groups, you need to come up with a topic that would generally be taught in MidGet in groups of 3 or 4. Once in your groups, you need to come up with a topic that would generally be taught in Middle School/Junior High. Some topic examples would be World War I, the Holocaust, or the Olympics. Once you have your topic picked out, your group will have to come up with a way to include that topic throughout the basic courses students take. Therefore, you need to include your topic into a math lesson, social studies/history lesson, science lesson, and one other course of your choice. Examples include music class, physical education class, art class, or an elective class such as woodworking. Take into consideration what you just learned about project-based learning. Try to include that instructional strategy by making your lessons more project based.dle School/Junior High. Some topic examples would be World War I, the Holocaust, or the Olympics. Once you have your topic picked out, your group will have to come up with a way to include that topic throughout the basic courses students take. Therefore, you need to include your topic into a math lesson, social studies/history lesson, science lesson, and one other course of your choice. Examples include music class, physical education class, art class, or an elective class such as woodworking. Take into consideration what you just learned about project-based learning. Try to include that instructional strategy by making your lessons more project based. Example of Workshop This is an example that was done for a group project for a Physical Education class Age level: 3rd grade Theme: Presidential History Math: Place fake money around the room and have students in groups of three walk around the room and find all the money that is on their worksheet. For example there will be a penny, nickel, dime, quarter, and fifty cent piece hidden around the room. Paper money examples are are one, five, ten, twenty, fifty, and one hundred dollar bills. On the back of the money there will be questions about the president on the front and the students need to answer the questions. Then do the physical activity that is stated on the back of the fake money. Language Arts: The students will get a word scramble worksheet and the students will have to unscramble the names of the president, the names will be in a word bank. Next to the name of the president there will be a number and the activity they have to do. Science: We are combining Science and Social Studies once the student figures out what state the President was born in they have to figure out the weather and climate of the state and also write down the fun facts about the state. Then they can do the physical activity. Social Studies: The students will have to figure which state each President was born in and when they do the state will have a already provided. A couple of examples would be 10 sit-ups, 8 jumping jacks, 5 push ups etc. Music: The students will get up and dance to the song, they will also sing the lyrics. While they are dancing they will do different moves like toe touches, jumping jacks, and windmills. The teacher can choose different exercises each time they do this activity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skam3bnMPVM At the end of the lesson the students will play a fun game of Presidential Jeopardy!!!!! Questions How easy/difficult was it to make your lessons more project-based compared to the normal content based lessons? On a scale of 1-10, how willing are you to try project-based learning in your classroom? Conclusion "Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny." -- Frank Outlaw Concluding thoughts