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Here are the notes from
this past week in class:
Students spent some time
writing researchable questions that will guide them through an
inquiry to finding answers by writing a small-scale literature
review. I mentioned that it is best to have questions be open
ended (avoiding questions that can be answered with a yes/no). I
also suggested that questions that begin with 'what' or 'how'
often generate answers that are more comprehensive. Students
spent some time discussing their questions in small groups and
then revising their questions as needed. Students submitted
their questions to me in class and I will read and offer
suggestions for any necessary future revision prior to beginning
the small-scale literature reviews.
In class, we briefly began
to discuss Caine's book regarding the Brain/Mind Learning
Principles. I began our discussion by asking what 'relaxed
alertness' means and provided that it refers to creating a
classroom environment that offers students low threat and high
challenge. Teachers should strive to have their students feel
relaxed while learning yet excited or emotionally engaged in the
activities. We as teachers need to be ongoingly aware that our
statements, interactions and behaviors in the classroom can
either serve to promote an environment of relaxed alertness or
one where frustration, anxiety and tension is present. To
provide a deeper understanding of this, I showed part of a video
simulation by Rick Lavoie called F.A.T. City - Frustration,
Anxiety and Tension. Although Rick shows how frustraiton,
anxiety and tension is often experienced by students with
learning disabilities, I used the video to demonstrate ways that
all students might experience similar feelings while in
classroom settings. For more information on Lavoie's work, you
may want to visit his website at:
http://www.ricklavoie.com/gateindex.html
That's all for this week.
Please remember to bring hand-drawn pictures of your online
portfolio when we meet again.
Keep reading, keep
learning and keep coming to class!
~Kim
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