My Favourite Strategies for Teaching!

 

(Ritchart, 2015, p.1) writes, “It is our expectations for students, ourselves, and the learning process itself that form the foundation for the culture of the group”. For me, one of the core values associated with teaching is to promote independence in the students. I would like to become a ‘redundant’ person in the classroom, such is the independent engagement I would prefer the students to have in their work. This is middle school Maths. But this is not done overnight. It has a number of steps on the way. Here I list 3 of my favourite teaching strategies, with examples, that helped my students become independent learners.

Collaborative Learning

Years ago, in grade 9 Maths class, I divided the class into groups of 6 and handed each group a set of problems to solve together. They were onto it and all I heard were intense discussions in the class. Such was the focus that they didn’t hear the bell or notice me quietly slipping out for my next class. Come down the timeline, and a student told me, “I learn better from my buddy-teacher”. When I let him learn with who he wished to, I discovered that his level of Maths improved on daily basis.

Such is the power of collaborative work. Collaboration brings in a safe zone for the students to learn from each other; is very positive for an inclusive class and gives the teacher a breather! “There has been found to be a strong correlation between cooperativeness and psychological health” (Promethean,2019).

Flip The Class

When I found myself in a school where students had laptops and free Wi-Fi, I decided to flip my classes. I sent them a mail with a task-sheet with rubric and other clear instructions They worked with peers or alone. “By combining clear expectations with work that really matters”, I was able to leave them to work independently (EL Education, 2015).

 The students, the Generation-X, took to it like fish to water! Not only did they learn the topics on their own, they also became more responsible in handling their laptops as any issue with it meant that they go back to the textbooks! I had no problems of ‘battery died’ or ‘Wi-Fi not working’. I discovered that the students had “Greater motivation, engagement, ownership, and “drive””, (Ritchart, 2015, p.19)

Flip the class gives students the space to learn at their own pace, very important for many. It also gives them self-sufficiency in learning and breaks the monotony of the teacher teaching forever. Learning from web based material teaches them information processing. They develop the capacity of being “lifelong learners”, (Ritchhart, 2015, p.19).

Portfolio

One of my favourite memories is that of a student in grade 7 who was totally unpopular with his peers, till I started portfolio system in the class! The portfolio would have all the work that the students did on sheets of papers. This student was the best in managing his portfolio and always had it perfectly organized. That made him a very sought after student in the class as everyone needed him to compare the required number of sheets. He found a respectful space in the group. “Enhanced self-esteem and sense of efficacy”, (Ritchhart, 2015, p.19) grew in him as he felt ‘valuable’ by his peers. Portfolio teaches students the art of organization, reflection on their work and the good habit of managing themselves.

In conclusion:

“When there are concrete structures in place, the kids know what to do

and their anxiety levels are low. They know where they are going and

there is some scaffolding to support them in focusing being independent

and then accomplishing what they need to accomplish”.

(EL Education, 2015).

 

Ritchhart, R. (2015). Creating cultures of thinking: The 8 forces we must master to truly transform our schools.