Researchers at the London's Institute of Education set out to find what makes an 'excellent' elementary teacher. Research leader, Prof. Iram Siraj-Blatchford, says that it is bundle of behaviors working together that can make a difference to children's development. It is pointed out that all children benefit from these classrooms but disadvantaged children the most. A longitudinal study tracking 3,000 students from ages 3 to 16 provided the data that found the following:
- EXCELLENT ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS - making sure that students understand the learning objectives and associated concepts in a well organized and smooth classroom routines;
- POSITIVE CLASSROOM CLIMATE - where adults and children in the class respect each other and behavior management is sensitive;
- PERSONALIZED TEACHING - catering to individual needs and provide resources to to match those needs. Teachers are more likely to link learning in the classroom with the world outside and homework that links directly to lesson content;
- DIALOGIC TEACHING AND LEARNING - harnessing the power of talk to extend and stimulate student thinking for advance learning and understanding;
- PLENARIES - applying a plenary to recap a lesson or to provide feedback. An example is to create a group solution from individual answers.
Commentary: When the article from the Guardian Professional (10/31/2011) caught the eye, I was anticipating a revolutionary answer. But in the words of the author, 'it is not rocket science'. It is simply the combination of good practices lumped together in a successful application. Perhaps these five steps should form the basis of any lesson plan rather than mundane mission statements and outcomes to match potential test scores.It underscores the value of having participation in the classroom instead of one-directional communication. It is indeed a case of 'students being seen and heard'.
Michael Cordier
No comments:
Post a Comment