Reading Response- Week 12 (Management)
- cannfitzgerald
- Nov 13, 2015
- 2 min read
Chapter 9 in Classroom Management by Carol Simon Weinstein and Molly E. Romano discusses how to enhance students’ motivation to learn. Teachers can give an “expectancy X value framework, implement strategies for increasing expectations of success, enhance the value of the task, and motivate underachieving and disaffected students” (Weinstein & Romano, 2015, p. 223-224). One of my strengths this semester has been under the category of enhancing the value of the task. I provide activities within my lessons for students to respond actively and interact with peers. Collaboration is the foundation of my inquiry this semester, so providing lessons that allow for interaction and kinesthetic learning are very prevalent during my teaching. I have proven that collaboration improves my students’ comprehension when they read during language arts time. By enhancing the value of task with collaboration and engaging activities, it improves my students’ overall motivation.
Chapter 10 explains how to manage independent work, recitations, and discussions. In my fifth grade classroom, there is a great amount of independent work, so it is essential that I can implement effective independent work (Weinstein & Romano, 2015). First, we need to make sure the tasks are challenging enough, but not too difficult for them to do independently (Weinstein, 2015). It is also very important to explain the purpose of the task, describe the methods they can use, and provide a few examples to model the task for them (Weinstein & Romano, 2015). This is a strategy I use every day in my classroom. I am a student that needs clear directions and an example in order to help me visualize my assignment, so I make sure to use this method in my classroom as well. Before I allow my students to work on their own for a math problem, a science investigation, or reading independently, I take at least five minutes to give explicit instructions and follow that with an example of what I expect. By doing this, I can ensure that my students will work effectively during independent work time.
Chapter 11 discusses how to organize and manage instruction. The authors include benefits and challenges of group work to make teachers more aware when planning collaborative learning. They also provide tips to design and implement effective group work, such as considering group elements, making sure there is individual accountability, and monitoring behavior (Weinstein & Romano, 2015). After implementing strategies for my inquiry on collaboration this semester, I have learned to think about these elements during the planning process. I ensure that the size of the group is small enough to ensure individual accountability and that the students in each group will work well with each other given their strengths. Planning how I will monitor their learning and behavior has been one of my biggest challenges. I have learned to create checklists, use anecdotal notes as I circulate, and include summative assessment that will allow me to see each individual student’s progress. All of these strategies have helped me organize and manage my instruction as I incorporate collaborative groups in my classroom.
Weinstein, C., & Romano, M. (2014). Elementary Classroom Management: Lessons From Research and Practice. New York: McGraw-Hill.
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