Vocabulary Resource

The article attached below is titled Strategies for Effective Vocabulary Instruction written by Donna Phillips, Chandra Foote, and Laurie Harper.  The authors of this article describe strategies that can be used for improving vocabulary instruction.  Some of the strategies mentioned in the article include using graphic organizers, synonyms and antonyms, and word sorts for vocabulary instruction.  This article is a good reminder about the importance of teaching vocabulary using a variety of strategies.  I recommend this article to any teacher who teaches vocabulary.   

http://med.smumn.edu/sites/default/files/Strategies_For_Effective_Vocabulary_Instruction.pdf

Praxis Reflection-Math

I believe that helping students to find a love for math is important to what I believe about teaching.  Growing up in school, I often heard my friends say “math is hard.”  This statement is engraved into the minds of many at such a young age.  I have always thought the opposite.  It wasn’t always easy for me either, but hard work and determination has helped me to find a love for math.  Teaching math to my students is my favorite part of the day.  At the beginning of the every year, many of my students dislike math.  I tell my students at the beginning of the year that I am going to help them to love math.  My students are able to see my own love for it and it soon becomes an enjoyable time of the day for them too.  I believe that math allows students to become problem solvers not just in math, but in everyday situations.  Helping my students to find a love for math is important to me because it helps students to see that any difficult problem or situation whether it is math or a real life situation can be solved with hard work and determination.

Making connections from what I am teaching to my students’ lives is very important to me.  I believe this motivates students to develop a love for learning.  In math, I strive to show students how math relates to their lives.  I incorporate story situations to their personal lives by including their names and what they like to do such as Joe has 16 video games and he gives 7 to his friend, how many does he have left.  I try to incorporate their interests to what we are learning about, whether it is money, addition, subtraction, time, graphing, etc.  By helping students to make connections from math to their lives, I am helping to create lifelong math learners.

Connections between Backward Design and Concept Based Instruction

After reading the concept based instruction and backward design articles, I have made the following connections.

1.     Essential Questions- Lessons are developed around an essential question and posted in the classroom.

2.   Idea Centered- Teachers begin with a big idea and plan lessons around that idea.  The unit is developed around an essential question.

3.   Collaboration- Both concepts focus on higher level thinking questioning for students.  Students engage in conversation and know that there is more than one answer.

4.   Connections – Students make connections from their prior knowledge to new knowledge and to their own lives.

5.   Motivation- Students are engaged in their learning.  Learning is relevant to their lives.

6.   Application- Students apply knowledge to real life situations and not just memorize facts and definitions.  Teachers teach for understanding of knowledge.

After watching Cipher in the Snow and listening to the story 601 Maple Street, it is easy to see how important it is to make connections with ALL students.  We can use intention to build relationships with students.  My intention as an educator is to make a difference in the lives of students.  One way I can do this is to focus on building positive connections with students.  Another way to do this is to look at their strengths and weaknesses of my students and finding ways to meet their needs.  I believe that it is so important to listen to the students.  They have so much to say and need someone to listen to them tell their story.  We all have stories to tell and someone to listen to us.  I truly believe that when students see how much their teacher cares about them, they are more open to learning.
 
It was stated in the video that people live up to what others think of them.  Students know what their teachers think of them without them having to say it.  Body language can say a lot.  Giving students positive attention can go a long way.  It can be as simple as a high five or a hug.  It may be the only sign of attention that child gets all day.  I want my students to know that I am someone who cares about them.