Often I use short video clips to pull students into the learning. I find these short examples are more paid attention to than me demonstrating live. I use the iMovie App to create these short clips. Here is an example of one I created to show students how to use the signage in the library.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Organization for Time Utilization
Many colleagues ask me how I manage to teach all I do within the time limits of my schedule (30 min lessons with 15 minutes of checkout). My answer is how I organize before the students arrive.
First, I created a system of how the students come in to sit. Many of my lessons involve either working in small groups or pairs. Having to group students during the lesson takes up too much time! So, I have signs to label where the groups are located and I number students as they walk in. Students have learned (2nd and up) my expectations of grouping and sitting. The first to be numbered and sitting in a group automatically is the "leader" for the lesson. Leader has automatic tasks such as handing out supplies, retrieving the group's answer and speaking for their group. Students know to sit with 2 on the first step and 2 on the second step and to leave supplies alone until asked.
Next is preparing supplies before they arrive. I keep a supply of pencils and clip boards in the lesson area. I preload and distribute the number of papers (on clipboards) and pencils for each group. Often, students work in groups or pairs and I only give enough papers for one per group or one per partnership.
I am now in my 2nd year of using this system. It took a few lessons of helping the students organize, but the time was worth it. There is no more time spent haggling who will be in partners or which group they will work with. I have even found many teachers come in with groups already made. Even the teachers can be trained!
First, I created a system of how the students come in to sit. Many of my lessons involve either working in small groups or pairs. Having to group students during the lesson takes up too much time! So, I have signs to label where the groups are located and I number students as they walk in. Students have learned (2nd and up) my expectations of grouping and sitting. The first to be numbered and sitting in a group automatically is the "leader" for the lesson. Leader has automatic tasks such as handing out supplies, retrieving the group's answer and speaking for their group. Students know to sit with 2 on the first step and 2 on the second step and to leave supplies alone until asked.
Next is preparing supplies before they arrive. I keep a supply of pencils and clip boards in the lesson area. I preload and distribute the number of papers (on clipboards) and pencils for each group. Often, students work in groups or pairs and I only give enough papers for one per group or one per partnership.
I am now in my 2nd year of using this system. It took a few lessons of helping the students organize, but the time was worth it. There is no more time spent haggling who will be in partners or which group they will work with. I have even found many teachers come in with groups already made. Even the teachers can be trained!
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Library Orientation - Be the One!
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| I had fun changing some decorations! |
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| Me dressed up with "Reading is my #1 Thing" ready for students! |
I created a short PowerPoint presentation so the students would have a visual. The circle map was created so each phrase came in with a click. I had the students first get the circle map prepared, then gave them about 6 minutes to define our library. After time, I shared what I put on my map, then they were able to share what I forgot.
Instead of me going "blah, blah, blah..." about rules, the students were able to do the thinking and remembering. I was sure to go over the highlights that really needed to be emphasized. I would say this was probably my favorite orientation lesson and easiest to create.
Here are maps students actually created...
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