instructional_strategies

=Instructional Strategies= //No matter how well planned, how interesting, stimulating, colorful or relevant the lesson, if the teacher does all the interacting with the material, the teacher’s - not the students’ brains will grow//.

I believe that an important part of your 3rd year is becoming more aware of the many different strategies you can use to engage your learners. This space will list the instructional strategies used in Social Studies. The benefit of a wiki is the shared collaborative space it provides. Feel free to add instructional strategies from other classes or from the field that you would like to share with others. It is my hope that you can take the compilation of strategies with you at the end of the semester.

1. Music Starter - engages the brain and energizes the learners; creating a happy upbeat environment; using it as a management tool; refreshes students’ prior learning when music relates to topic being learned; Appropriate music – may be subject related.

2. Mystery Envelope - The power of the mystery envelope created a sense of curiousity which engaged the brain. Having actual props in the envelope to touch and play with intrigues the Kineastetic learner. The group discussion to follow with all the articles at our table allowed a student centered learning to take place in which cooperation was key.

3. Beginning of the Wiki - This wiki will help us with our communication between the whole class. We are integrating technology into the classroom. We are collaborating our ideas and we all can contibute and share our knowledge on the wiki.

4. Sticky Note- The sticky notes helped us make a connection. It added on to the mystery envelope activity and helped put things into a perspective. It helped the visual learners see how the connections were made. This activity also helped us socially interact with each other, whether it be the brainstorming aspect of it or when we were placing the sticky notes on the board.

5. Paper Pass - This strategy allowed every student to actively participate in brain storming and idea sharing process. The student-centered approach prompts and engages learners. Students can build on each others ideas. Technology was integrated into the classroom by modifying the activity to use of laptops instead of paper. This was helpful because every student has access to the answers that the class came up with.

6. Group Work/ Group Roles- The group roles used in class were recorder, reporter, discussion leader, and materials manager. The idea with the students not choosing their own roles was a great way to avoid conflict and made the decisions more clear. The fact that the choices were randomized allowed different students to experience roles that they might not be good at but can learn from, or it may be good if they receive a role they are experienced with. This way of working allowed practice in leadership, interaction, brain-storming, and it also shows different perspectives given by the different students. It is also a way for students to feel less overwhelmed and feel less fear to voice their opinions in smaller groups. It is also a way to make she that everyone is included.

7. Preparing for a guest speaker - Build prior knowledge - making sure the students have background information so they are prepared to listen and be engaged. Have them listen for things they don't understand, things they enjoyed or things they would like the speaaker to expand upon and invite them to make comments or ask questions. This will help the speaker feel welcomed and appreciated and will involve the students in the presentation which will encourage learning.

8. What We Think We Know Chart- This chart is an excellent source for an inquiry based lesson. It can be used as a pre-assessment tool to learn what knowledge your students have, It opens-up discussions and helps the students open up because there are no wrong answers. It is now "What we THINK we know" because that word 'think' helps the students feel better when their idea may not be accurate.

9. Carousel Activity- This activity allowed everyone to actively participate in brainstorming while making connections and building on what the rest of the class had come up with it.