Putting the Big Rocks FIRST

It is so easy to let the little rocks in life take so much time and to push the big rocks off to the side or put them in last.  It is so easy to get caught up with the little things in life and let those little things take our precious time.  We need to learn to focus on the big rocks that are important to us such as family and friends.  The most important thing we need to try to do is to find a balance in life and make it a priority to put our big rocks first.  There is only so much time in a day and we can only fit so much in our buckets.  After watching the “Big Rocks” clip, I really began to think about my rocks and my priorities.  This past week, the rock idea has been in my mind and I have been trying to not stress over the little things, the things I usually can’t change.  Watching this video reminded me that it is important to find a balance and put the big rocks in first.

Check out the video.  How do you make your rocks fit?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8705cHTKEgQ

Backwards Design

This past week, I began a process called Backwards Design to plan a unit on multiplication, division, and fractions.  This method involves starting with the goals of what the teacher hopes to have students achieve.  This process helps educators to remain focused on the big idea.  To begin this process, I listed the learning goals which I hope to achieve with my students.  Then, I listed the enduring understandings which are the big ideas that students will understand.  Next, I wrote four essential questions.  Finally, I wrote the knowledge and skills that students will know and be able to do as a result of this unit.

The Backwards Design process is a method that I have not used before.  At first, I will admit, I was feeling a little (okay…VERY) overwhelmed.  By taking small steps, I feel I am moving in the right direction of understanding the process.  After completing Stage 1 of the process, I feel that I have gained a strong understanding of what I hope students will achieve by the end of my three week unit.  I would like to begin using essential questions in my classroom and designing this unit has pushed me in that direction of writing these questions.  I know that as I begin this process, I am able to reflect on what went well and make changes for the future.  I look forward to completing the rest of the process and eventually teaching my students this unit.  Beginning the process of using Backwards Design was scary at first because it was new to me, but it has opened my eyes to a new way of planning.

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.