This week I’ve been thinking about learning according to schema and of course Piaget’s developmental stages, but I’ve also been thinking about my own classroom and my school. When I am asked “What is learning” I have to say that student motivation is a huge key. I work in an amazing school and I work with wonderful teachers. I can’t help but think that some of the success I see in the classrooms of my fellow teachers comes from the motivation that these students feel when they enter the classroom. The classroom environment makes such a huge impact on student learning. If students feel like they are valued and cared for, they will do anything for a teacher. I just wonder if we will talk about that in class. My faculty has been working on positive reinforcement and specifically sending home two positive postcards a week. Teachers choose any two students in class and send home a postcard telling parents about a positive thing that happened with the student that week. This has been very powerful and there has been great feedback from parents and students. I think that when students get one of these postcards, their motivation goes up and they are willing to try that much harder in class. So is there a theorist that has done research on this, or should I start my research process so I can make millions of dollars selling books with my findings?
I think that one of the best ways to effectuate learning is to try to get to know students. (Of course everyone in my Masters classes understands this because I’ve seen your lesson plans and I know that you are amazing teachers.) Students need to know that a teacher cares about them. They also need to know that the teacher cares about them enough to put a foot down when they are out of control. So, there are my thoughts about learning and effectuating learning for this week.
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Amy,
ReplyDeleteIt is such a cliche to say that "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care," but it is so true. In the very beginning of the year, showing the students you care about your curriculum helps to bridge the gap of not knowing your students, but not for long. soon a teacher has to get to know them and care about them as individuals. That's hard to do with the numbers we have. Of course, my problem comes at the end of the year when I have to say goodbye to those I have come to care so much about. Do you ever wish for last year's students? Happens to me every year.
Intersting point of view. I like that you concentrated more on the environment of your classroom and not necessairly teaching practices. I have found that in my 2nd year of teaching I have a lot to learn about my content material and how to approach it. I find that students enjoy my class because of my approach and attitude more than the way I teach my material. Student's tend to enjoy classes where teachers take an interest in them and really get to know them.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I think you bring up some great points. We all want to be told that we're doing a great job or have positive reinforcement. That motivation from a teacher drives students, and even drives me as an adult. When someone believes in you, it sure seems easier to believe in yourself. AND you mentioned that letting students go unchecked (out of control) isn't necessarily a way of showing them love. Right on! Students need to know that there are boundaries, structure, and systems in place. It makes me think of one of the lessons I read this week. It was from Marc Burgess. One of the ideas he wanted students to learn is that if there isn't a law, they can't make a choice between good or evil. Basically, if our students don't know the boundaries, they don't know where they stand or what their choices even are. I recommend reading Marc's lesson if you have an interest in opposition in all things or reasons for a law. Your last comments just made me think of it. You're a great teacher, Amy! I wish I could sit in on one of your classes!
ReplyDeleteAmy,I like how you focused your thinking on your classroom and how you and your school are encouraging students by positive motivation. We did that one year, (sent the postcards), and I think it brought great results. It also makes us, the teachers that write the postcards, think more about what happened that is good, and not just the unpleasant things that went on for the week. It is a great way of encouraging learning, the students are surprized and happy, the parents are estatic, and the teacher gets results!
ReplyDeleteI think you're absolutely right in placing such value on the learning environment and the student's motivation to learn. Knowing that a teacher is there to help in a positive way can be so helpful to the student's motivation.
ReplyDeletethe postcard idea sounds interesting....not sure if specific research has been done on that because that is not my area of research, but I do know the more you can get parents thinking that their children's education is important, the better. If parents think school is not that important it rubs off on the kids. But sending the postcards parents can see what kind of goos things are happening is school and how their kids are taking part.
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