Everybody In!

           Everybody In!

Christine Stephens, Teacher Consultant

Fourth Grade Teacher, Candor

Big Idea

Students come to our classrooms with many assumptions about school. For many students, there are painful experiences in which they feel they can’t be a part of the group. In this demo, we will think about how changing learning environments in various ways helps give you a sense of freedom and control over how you learn and how comfortable you feel contributing to class discussions and activities.

Method

1. Write: 3 minutes

Think about a classroom experience when you felt uncomfortable, overwhelmed, or anxious.

2. Share: 2 minutes

Reread what you wrote and circle 3 words or phrases that sum up the experience. Everyone will choose one word or phrase you circled in a whip around share.

3. Write: 3 minutes

You are going to write again, but this time you may, but do not have to, move to a space in the room where you feel more comfortable: on the table, under the table, next to the wall, or simply turning around or write on your lap.

Think about a time when you had a learning experience where you had an “aha” moment or “got it”, meaning you learned something new or felt like you were contributing to and/or getting a lot out of a class discussion or activity.

4. Share: 5 minutes

Find a partner and share your “aha” moment. Also discuss what outside elements (setting, noise level, time, teacher, etc.) contributed to your new learning. Share your partner’s positive learning experience.

5. Compare/Write: 2 minutes

Did changing your environment affect the way you wrote? Did your learning change when you changed or had the opportunity to change position in the room? What were some differences between the first experience you wrote about and the second experience?

6. Share: 2 minutes

Go back and read and write down one difference on a sticky note. Share.

7. Synthesize: 2 minutes

Describe your optimal learning environment. Write a positive from your writing to include on our poster.

8. Final Share:

Put both of your sticky notes on the poster titled, “Tools to Help us Learn Better”.

Wrap:

We wrote about an learning experience that didn’t work, we changed our positions while writing about a learning experience that did work, and through writing and sharing we came up with tools to make us learn better. You can think about how you can use this in your own classroom or practice.

           Everybody In!

Christine Stephens, Teacher Consultant

Fourth Grade Teacher, Candor

Big Idea

Students come to our classrooms with many assumptions about school. For many students, there are painful experiences in which they feel they can’t be a part of the group. In this demo, we will think about how changing learning environments in various ways helps give you a sense of freedom and control over how you learn and how comfortable you feel contributing to class discussions and activities.

Method

1. Write: 3 minutes

Think about a classroom experience when you felt uncomfortable, overwhelmed, or anxious.

2. Share: 2 minutes

Reread what you wrote and circle 3 words or phrases that sum up the experience. Everyone will choose one word or phrase you circled in a whip around share.

3. Write: 3 minutes

You are going to write again, but this time you may, but do not have to, move to a space in the room where you feel more comfortable: on the table, under the table, next to the wall, or simply turning around or write on your lap.

Think about a time when you had a learning experience where you had an “aha” moment or “got it”, meaning you learned something new or felt like you were contributing to and/or getting a lot out of a class discussion or activity.

4. Share: 5 minutes

Find a partner and share your “aha” moment. Also discuss what outside elements (setting, noise level, time, teacher, etc.) contributed to your new learning. Share your partner’s positive learning experience.

5. Compare/Write: 2 minutes

Did changing your environment affect the way you wrote? Did your learning change when you changed or had the opportunity to change position in the room? What were some differences between the first experience you wrote about and the second experience?

6. Share: 2 minutes

Go back and read and write down one difference on a sticky note. Share.

7. Synthesize: 2 minutes

Describe your optimal learning environment. Write a positive from your writing to include on our poster.

8. Final Share:

Put both of your sticky notes on the poster titled, “Tools to Help us Learn Better”.

Wrap:

We wrote about an learning experience that didn’t work, we changed our positions while writing about a learning experience that did work, and through writing and sharing we came up with tools to make us learn better. You can think about how you can use this in your own classroom or practice.