Marzano's What Works in Schools

          For the past few weeks, I implemented two new ideas to help with classroom management.  Below are the two new strategies, I implemented in my classroom:

1.  Rules and Procedures: Group Work- Assign “jobs” for groups (time keeper, recorder, etc.), spend more time talking about behavior and expectations before beginning group/partner work--I think this is something I could work on to make group/partner work more effective.  This will help me to ensure each person is in charge of something and contributing to the team.

2.  Teacher Student Relationships-I would like to use a rubric with students at the end of lessons.  We begin each lesson with the objective.  At the end of the lesson, I would like to use the 4, 3, 2, 1 rubric to check for their understanding (4 meaning you have a strong understanding and 1 meaning you need more help).  At my level, I think I would like to try it with a thumbs up or thumbs down to begin.

          I found the above strategies to be effective in my classroom.  My students loved wearing the “job” buttons during group work time.  I found this strategy to be helpful because as students worked, I was able to watch and see the students involved and taking on the role of their job and contributing to their group.  Marzano states, “establishing and enforcing rules and procedures is a prerequisite for effective instruction in all k-12 classrooms” (p. 89).  By having the rules and procedures for each “job” during group work, I felt the students knew exactly what to do and what I expected of them.  The second strategy was also effective in my classroom.  I used the thumbs up or down after teaching a lesson.  This allowed me to quickly see which students felt like they understood and which students would need more support.  Before having students complete math independent work, I had the students draw a happy face for understanding or a straight face if they felt they needed more support.  I found this to be helpful because as I walked around the classroom, I knew which students needed more support by looking at their paper.

Technology

For the past two weeks, I have tried to implement new technology into my classroom.  An app that I have tried with my whole class is called Pic Collage.  It is a very simple app in which the students can choose pictures and add text.  We have been using the app for vocabulary.  To use this in my class with one iPad, I have been projecting the iPad and introducing the word.  As a class, we choose a picture that represents the word.  We either take a picture or upload one from the web.  My students really enjoy this app because it helps them to make connections between pictures and words.  I really like this app because it gives the students choice in the picture they want to represent the word.

Another app I have implemented in my classroom is Targeting Maths 2.  I really like this app because grade level math strands are targeted.  The students practice individually under their account during Math Stations.  Students are able to practice a skill by answering questions and then choosing a badge for their account.   Afterwards, I can enter their account to see their progress.  Although this app is expensive ($8.99), I believe it is beneficial.

Technology

          I am integrating reader’s theater into my classroom to help with fluency.  I decided to try the apps Sock Puppets and Puppet Pals.  I read a story that goes with our curriculum and then found a grade level reader’s theater to go with it.  I told my class that we would get to present the plays with the iPads.  They were so excited.  We practiced the reader’s theater multiple times throughout the week.  I decided to begin by using the Puppet Pals app since there are more options and the recordings can be longer.  I uploaded characters to the app.  The students then presented their plays with the use of the app.  They were able to interact with the characters as they read their parts.  Then we showcased our plays by watching them on a projector.  The students were proud and excited to hear their reading with expression and fluency.  This is an app that I am going to continue to use and find ways to implement into my classroom.

Teacher-Level Factors

          Before reading Marzano’s chapter on teacher-level factors, I predict he will note management and teacher-student interaction as important.  I believe management will be noted as important because if a teacher is not consistent and students don’t feel in a safe comfortable learning environment, learning will be challenging.  I also think that teacher-student interactions will be noted because students need to know they are loved and cared for in order for them to be and feel successful.

          After reading Marzano’s chapter on teacher-level factors, we have some similarities.  He says the three most important factors are instructional strategies, classroom management techniques, and classroom curricular design.  His factor that I predicted was management.  I think that teacher-student interaction also fits in this area.  Students need to be an environment that they can learn in otherwise how can learning take place?

I do agree with Marzano when he says that individual teacher decisions have a greater impact than decisions at the school level.  I believe an effective teacher knows their students and needs to make decisions that benefit the class.

The Best and Worst of Times

            Before reading Marzano’s chapter, I reflected on “the best and worst of times.”  I would consider today’s world of teaching, learning, and education as “the worst of times” because there is so much pressure on teachers to do more and more.  The students are also expected to learn more at a quicker rate.  There is less time for students to interact and just “play.”  I also feel that some parents need to work more and there is less time left for kids and helping with homework and reading.

            I would consider today’s world of teaching, learning, and education as “the best of times” because students are learning more at a higher level with the ability to apply their learning to multiple situations.  I also feel that any information students want to know can be found very quickly with a quick search on the internet.  I would consider today’s world of education “the best of times” because there are many more resources that are easily accessible to support teachers.

            In Marzano’s article he looks at the best of times and the worst of times in education.  He writes about how students’ backgrounds plays a role in their education success.   I believe that students who come from challenging situations can overcome these situations.  I believe that the experiences that students come from can be shared within the class and everyone can learn through those experiences.

            Looking at the best of times, Marzano writes about how schools can impact student achievement by staying up to date on research.  I believe that schools and teachers are constantly changing to do the next best thing.  It is important to follow best practices and implement them.  I believe we have to keep in mind what is best for students in order to help them be successful.

            It takes a village to raise a child and everyone must do their part.  We need to work together.