Within the Excel model I feel that I do a good job with the Communicate step. I think that I do a good job communicating the content of the class, I try to create/encourage a two way dialogue, I try to allow for flexibility, and I try to bring in real world benefits. An area in the Excel model I will try to work on next school year is the Solar Listening. I need to use more open ended questions in the classroom.
Questioning strategies in the classroom are so important. I also try to ask more open ended questions. I also try to ask the same question to more than one student. I try to show them that just because they solve the problem in a different way that they are not wrong.
I agree that it is essential for students to see and understand the real world benefits from what they are learning. The tasks we create as teachers need to allow students to see how the skills they are learning will apply to them later on in life.
I too need to be sure to spend more time asking open ended questions that get the students to think. I also need to try and answer questions in such a way that they are forced to think beyond the box.
I think I engage students each day as they enter my room... getting then ready to start whatever we are doing that day. I also try to provide a launch each day...I trek then I WILL see them tomorrow, so they know i expect then to be in class. I want to work on sending them out with a saying this year too. .. something about"being the best they can be at whatever they do." I also need to with on listening more and getting then to tak and answer questions with some leading questions, prompts, and cures.
I also think I will engage the students every day. I have in the past just greeted them but know I will endeavor to shake their hands and every day. Also I will have good things on Tuesday and let myself and them have fun before getting back to work.
I believe my implementation of the Engage step is very effective. I always meet students at the door and welcome them to the class. Students that come in late are also welcomed but reminded to be on time. I will add a handshake (and a jug of sanitizer) this year. I am going to work on the Communicate step. I catch myself thinking about everything that "needs to get done" rather than truly listening. The active listening SOLAR steps and open-ended questions will help me to remain focused.
I also discovered I need to work on my active listening skills when I discussed it with a friend. I will try to listen to students and provide feedback in the form of open ended questions and not advice!
I’m also going to try to increase the number of open ended questions I ask in class. I teach math, and sometimes it can be challenging to have quality open ended questions. I math, most times the answers to questions are either right or wrong, there is only one correct answer.
I have always felt I was a good listener, but now I need to take it to the next step and not be forming my answer ahead of time. I have always fist bumped, but now will also get more sanitizer and start shacking hands.
I have seen James work and he is a good listener. I have trouble with listening for to long because of my class. I am teaching a on line course however the students will ask for retakes and trouble shooting if the have a problem. I know listening is a important skill and I try to do this with my wife and I will be more effective at it with the students.
I also feel that the first step, engage, is one that I do well. I always greet my students at my door and welcome them by name to class each day. If they were gone I tell them that we missed them yesterday and that I will help them get caught up with what they missed. I have even gone so far as to call students during class to find out where they are when I had seen them earlier in the day and they don't show up for my class. I want them to know that I care that they are in my class and it's important for them to be with us every day.
One of the things I want to work on this upcoming school year is the launch step. I really love the powerful quotes that we end the day with to tie things together and I think that would be an awesome way to end class each day.
I also believe it's a good idea to let the students know that they are missed when they are absent. The entire class is learning together and each student has value within the group.
I feel that several areas of EXCEL are strong points for myself. The two strongest areas with the students at Kanesville would be; Engage: twice during the day I walk throughout the building to affirm with the students. This helps me to build into X-plore and building a safe environment. The students response to these two areas allows me to help them be more successful with their academics. The area I need to build in my classroom setting will be the area of empowerment. I feel that the students and I build great bridges and can cross the bridges in many areas, but when the students need to build their own bridges they are unwilling to let go and trust themselves. I need to help these students to trust their own abilities.
I’m also going to try to increase my students level of empowerment. My students are usually engaged, and working when I’m demonstrating/presenting material and we do some practice work together, however, when they are asked to try something on their own, many students stop working. It’s a challenge I will try to address, I think many young students are afraid to make a mistake in front of their friends. I’m going to try to emphasize that it is OK to make a mistake when you use your mistake to grow.
I will be working with students transitioning back into high school. I agree that increasing my student's level of empowerment will assist in their transition back to an environment they have not been successful in the past.
Within the EXCEL model I feel I do the Engage process well with my students. I have always stood at my door to welcome my students each day, as well as when the leave. I have not always shook their hands but I welcome them and I know my students feel welcome when they are in my classroom. I model social and professional skills and often discuss why they are important now and in their future. If students feel welcomed they will perform to their best in your classroom. I plan on working on the X-PLORE part of the model. I will focus on listening, conveying empathy, probing and asking more open-ended questions with my students. If my students feels secure in my classroom this will be so important for them to be successful.
I think that just by the nature of my subject matter - FOODS - I am a bit better at Empowering. My course is hands on and the students have to do and show that they can do in order to be successful in the class. I still have some work to do in this area as the students work in groups and some find it easy to sit back and let others do it for them.
I Need to work on several areas but will start first on Engage - It has always been hard to get names learned fast so this should help. A close second will be Explore - Sometimes I feel like I know so little about my students because I am trying to cover so much classroom material and taking some time will help. Plus in a multi grade level classroom It will help if the students get to know each other as individuals not just as “freshman” or “juniors” with preconceived ideas. The students I have gotten to know better in the past have not been discipline problems.
I agree that when you get to know the students better, discipline problems tend to be a lot less of a problem. Also, working in groups allows the students to get to know each other better and this helps create a more cohesive atmosphere. We're all in the learning process together.
Group work is one thing I think all of us struggle with at times. Making sure everyone participates and one person doesn't end up doing all of the work is always a problem. Having specific tasks that each individual is responsible for is essential. It is so important as we all can learn so much from each other.
Within the EXCEL model I believe I do well in trying to X-plore what each student needs in order to be successful in Spanish class. I have a wide range of abilities within each class. There are heritage speakers with Spanish as their first language, and students with no prior experience in learning another language. I need to be able to develop positive relationships with my students to be able to make their time learning Spanish a success. One area I will work on is using a handshake to greet them everyday. I have always greeted each student by name as they enter the classroom, but now I will use a handshake to develop a positive relationship as well.
The first thing that I will do is Engage the students. I have a problem remembering the students names. With this I will hopefully be better able to remember the students and with the proper handshake get them ready for the working world. Also I will be more attentive when step foot through the door and gauge them to see how there day has been so far. Also, I will do more listening with my students, my wife and my grandchildren. It is something that I have to be more consistent on.
I agree that we need to be more attentive to the surroundings when we are in our classrooms. At Kanesville we use first names for all, students and teachers, I think that helps to create a less harsh climate and builds stronger relationships.
Listening is so important not only in the classroom but at home. It is so hard not to interrupt and just listen. It is something that I will work on too.
Within the Excel model I feel that I do a good job with the Communicate step. I think that I do a good job communicating the content of the class, I try to create/encourage a two way dialogue, I try to allow for flexibility, and I try to bring in real world benefits.
ReplyDeleteAn area in the Excel model I will try to work on next school year is the Solar Listening. I need to use more open ended questions in the classroom.
I often ask questions that allow the students to answer yes or no! I also need to use more open ended questions!
DeleteQuestioning strategies in the classroom are so important. I also try to ask more open ended questions. I also try to ask the same question to more than one student. I try to show them that just because they solve the problem in a different way that they are not wrong.
DeleteI agree that it is essential for students to see and understand the real world benefits from what they are learning. The tasks we create as teachers need to allow students to see how the skills they are learning will apply to them later on in life.
DeleteI too need to be sure to spend more time asking open ended questions that get the students to think. I also need to try and answer questions in such a way that they are forced to think beyond the box.
DeleteI think I engage students each day as they enter my room... getting then ready to start whatever we are doing that day. I also try to provide a launch each day...I trek then I WILL see them tomorrow, so they know i expect then to be in class. I want to work on sending them out with a saying this year too. .. something about"being the best they can be at whatever they do." I also need to with on listening more and getting then to tak and answer questions with some leading questions, prompts, and cures.
ReplyDeleteI also think I will engage the students every day. I have in the past just greeted them but know I will endeavor to shake their hands and every day. Also I will have good things on Tuesday and let myself and them have fun before getting back to work.
DeleteI believe my implementation of the Engage step is very effective. I always meet students at the door and welcome them to the class. Students that come in late are also welcomed but reminded to be on time. I will add a handshake (and a jug of sanitizer) this year.
ReplyDeleteI am going to work on the Communicate step. I catch myself thinking about everything that "needs to get done" rather than truly listening. The active listening SOLAR steps and open-ended questions will help me to remain focused.
I also discovered I need to work on my active listening skills when I discussed it with a friend. I will try to listen to students and provide feedback in the form of open ended questions and not advice!
DeleteI’m also going to try to increase the number of open ended questions I ask in class. I teach math, and sometimes it can be challenging to have quality open ended questions. I math, most times the answers to questions are either right or wrong, there is only one correct answer.
DeleteI have always felt I was a good listener, but now I need to take it to the next step and not be forming my answer ahead of time. I have always fist bumped, but now will also get more sanitizer and start shacking hands.
DeleteI have seen James work and he is a good listener. I have trouble with listening for to long because of my class. I am teaching a on line course however the students will ask for retakes and trouble shooting if the have a problem. I know listening is a important skill and I try to do this with my wife and I will be more effective at it with the students.
DeleteI also feel that the first step, engage, is one that I do well. I always greet my students at my door and welcome them by name to class each day. If they were gone I tell them that we missed them yesterday and that I will help them get caught up with what they missed. I have even gone so far as to call students during class to find out where they are when I had seen them earlier in the day and they don't show up for my class. I want them to know that I care that they are in my class and it's important for them to be with us every day.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I want to work on this upcoming school year is the launch step. I really love the powerful quotes that we end the day with to tie things together and I think that would be an awesome way to end class each day.
DeleteI also believe it's a good idea to let the students know that they are missed when they are absent. The entire class is learning together and each student has value within the group.
DeleteI feel that several areas of EXCEL are strong points for myself. The two strongest areas with the students at Kanesville would be; Engage: twice during the day I walk throughout the building to affirm with the students. This helps me to build into X-plore and building a safe environment. The students response to these two areas allows me to help them be more successful with their academics.
ReplyDeleteThe area I need to build in my classroom setting will be the area of empowerment. I feel that the students and I build great bridges and can cross the bridges in many areas, but when the students need to build their own bridges they are unwilling to let go and trust themselves. I need to help these students to trust their own abilities.
I’m also going to try to increase my students level of empowerment. My students are usually engaged, and working when I’m demonstrating/presenting material and we do some practice work together, however, when they are asked to try something on their own, many students stop working. It’s a challenge I will try to address, I think many young students are afraid to make a mistake in front of their friends. I’m going to try to emphasize that it is OK to make a mistake when you use your mistake to grow.
DeleteI will be working with students transitioning back into high school. I agree that increasing my student's level of empowerment will assist in their transition back to an environment they have not been successful in the past.
DeleteWithin the EXCEL model I feel I do the Engage process well with my students. I have always stood at my door to welcome my students each day, as well as when the leave. I have not always shook their hands but I welcome them and I know my students feel welcome when they are in my classroom. I model social and professional skills and often discuss why they are important now and in their future. If students feel welcomed they will perform to their best in your classroom.
ReplyDeleteI plan on working on the X-PLORE part of the model. I will focus on listening, conveying empathy, probing and asking more open-ended questions with my students. If my students feels secure in my classroom this will be so important for them to be successful.
This is a great goal ..I want to work on this, too. Empathy is important and I have it with adults, but I need to have it with my kids, too.
DeleteI think that just by the nature of my subject matter - FOODS - I am a bit better at Empowering. My course is hands on and the students have to do and show that they can do in order to be successful in the class. I still have some work to do in this area as the students work in groups and some find it easy to sit back and let others do it for them.
ReplyDeleteI Need to work on several areas but will start first on Engage - It has always been hard to get names learned fast so this should help. A close second will be Explore - Sometimes I feel like I know so little about my students because I am trying to cover so much classroom material and taking some time will help. Plus in a multi grade level classroom It will help if the students get to know each other as individuals not just as “freshman” or “juniors” with preconceived ideas. The students I have gotten to know better in the past have not been discipline problems.
I agree that when you get to know the students better, discipline problems tend to be a lot less of a problem. Also, working in groups allows the students to get to know each other better and this helps create a more cohesive atmosphere. We're all in the learning process together.
DeleteGroup work is one thing I think all of us struggle with at times. Making sure everyone participates and one person doesn't end up doing all of the work is always a problem. Having specific tasks that each individual is responsible for is essential. It is so important as we all can learn so much from each other.
DeleteWithin the EXCEL model I believe I do well in trying to X-plore what each student needs in order to be successful in Spanish class. I have a wide range of abilities within each class. There are heritage speakers with Spanish as their first language, and students with no prior experience in learning another language. I need to be able to develop positive relationships with my students to be able to make their time learning Spanish a success.
ReplyDeleteOne area I will work on is using a handshake to greet them everyday. I have always greeted each student by name as they enter the classroom, but now I will use a handshake to develop a positive relationship as well.
The first thing that I will do is Engage the students. I have a problem remembering the students names. With this I will hopefully be better able to remember the students and with the proper handshake get them ready for the working world. Also I will be more attentive when step foot through the door and gauge them to see how there day has been so far. Also, I will do more listening with my students, my wife and my grandchildren. It is something that I have to be more consistent on.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we need to be more attentive to the surroundings when we are in our classrooms. At Kanesville we use first names for all, students and teachers, I think that helps to create a less harsh climate and builds stronger relationships.
DeleteListening is so important not only in the classroom but at home. It is so hard not to interrupt and just listen. It is something that I will work on too.
DeleteWorking on learning the names has always been a challenge for me and greeting at the door will really help with this.
Delete