This learning centre was used in a Grade 3 class at Rehoboth Christian School.
This learning centre was used in a Grade 3 class at Rehoboth Christian School.
Differentiated Instruction
I had the privilege of learning about DI in a class at Redeemer with Edith Vanderboom. I have created detailed differentiated lesson plans that I have not yet had the chance to try in the classroom. Professor Vanderboom encouraged us to differentiate in small steps as we began our placements -the pictures to the left are math challenge questions that I gave to the students who excelled in the grade 3 math class at Heritage Christian School. These inquiry-based problems were exciting for the students and for me, as I watched them figure out problems that I found difficult. Math was a specific subject in which I found differentiation was 100% necessary.
View my DI lesson plans here:
Group Work Management Wheel
This is a Group Work Wheel that I created while practice teaching at Heritage Christian School. The class had trouble focusing during group work, and this was a simple non-verbal management strategy that helped the students to stay on task. The students quickly learned that if the arrow moved towards the yellow “Focus!” section, they needed to quiet down and focus on their work. If they corrected their behaviour, I would move the arrow back up to the green section; however, if they did not improve their unfocused behaviour, the arrow would be moved to “Stop!” and the group work would end. I love it when students work in groups because I believe that students are often the best teachers. This simple management strategy of signal interference did not require a single word from my mouth and was fast and effective!
Multiple Intelligences Learning Centre
In a collaborative project, my colleagues and I made this learning centre about the five senses. We specifically drew on Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences to design the activities for the centre. I love the idea of multiple intelligences. It is a beneficial theory to draw upon in order to encourage the uniqueness and individual strengths of each child in the class.
View the background behind the learning centre and a sample activity here:
My interest in Multiple Intelligences directed the creation of my Light and Sound Learning Cycle for the Grade 4 students of Westdale Public School.
You can see my learning cycle plan here:
Professional Practice
"Members apply professional knowledge and experience to promote student learning. They use appropriate pedagogy, assessment and evaluation, resources and technology in planning for and responding to the needs of individual students and learning communities. Members refine their professional practice through ongoing inquiry, dialogue and reflection." -OCT website
A lot of educational ideas are good in theory, but until a teacher has the chance to really practice the theories, the ideas remain abstract. Terms such as differentiated instruction, project-based learning, multiple intelligences, critical thinking, and management strategies take on a whole new meaning when they are put into action in the classroom.
Below are artifacts and summaries that showcase adherence to this standard in my current position as classroom teacher, my studies, and my teaching placements.
Project Based Learning:
Project 1 & 2
While learning about the 6 Traits + 1 for writing (created by Ruth Culham), I decided to undertake the project of publishing a book with my students. My first completed project was done with the Grade 2/3 class at Ancaster Meadow School, using a free publishing program, "Studentreasures." We used the Smart Board during our editing process. A year later, I published another book with the Grade 3 class at Heritage Christian School; the completed books are currently in the mail! Although both projects were a lot of work, I was able to change certain aspects of the first project to make my second similar project more manageable. The kids and I are both so proud of the work we've done!
View some of the steps involved here:
Critical Thinking
While teaching, I quickly discovered how often students share their opinions without giving valid reasons for what they believe. I find that many students have a hard time articulating their thoughts. I started doing some research on the benefits to teaching students how to debate at a young age. There were very little online resources available, but I manged to compile some ideas (mostly from ESL learning websites) to create a Debate unit for my grade 4 class. They love it, and I do, too! It is amazing to see the students become passionate about ethical ideas and to think more deeply.! Click the button to be redirected to "Professional Knowledge," to see a video of a classroom debate.
See my Debate unit classroom booklet here:
