Here are some tools I think would be good for an English Curriculum for the 21st century student. I wanted to post it here on the blog for everyone to read and comment on.
What can I add to the list (because I know there is more)?
- Podcasts: Sometimes just listening to teachers isn’t enough! For example, rather than you, the teacher, control a read a loud session, have students record a podcast and act out character voices. My thought with this is it gets students engaged and provides them a better understanding of the material.
- Media: Rather than looking at these as a separate entity to the curriculum, blend it into the curriculum. Don’t look at movies or websites as a fun break from the textbook -- use them as a means of understanding the material, especially for those who are visual learners.
- Build Relationships: The article discussed the idea that our EQ is just as important as IQ in today’s workplace and I definitely agree. Instead of having students work alone in silence, pair them up for class projects. This will help them work with one another to solve problems and even learn from one another. This works virtually as well with something like Edmodo or Ning.
- Thinking Across Disciplines: I love the concept in the article about depth over breadth and leaping across disciplines. The example in the article was combining earth science, chemistry, business and design for develop a shoe for Nike. My idea, as an English teacher, would be to have students write a letter to the Pa. Department of Education (for example) outlining what they would like to see change in their school. At a middle school and high school level, this covers the writing portion, as well as a piece of social studies.
Here is an interesting site I found while looking around to see how school districts are implementing a 21st century curriculum: http://www.p21.org/documents/p21-stateimp_curriculuminstruction.pdf
Great ideas. In my co-op class on Friday we had students "read" the "text" of some paintings from the Renaissance in order to discuss social and political changes from the Middle Ages. It really brought the concepts to life for the kids. Regarding emotional engagement, I've observed some of the disruptive students taking the initiative to help the more quiet students when working in foursomes at their tables. It gives me the opportunity to praise their efforts and helps me to win their trust. I see this as a desirable alternative to wrestling with top- down instruction. Of course, I'm blessed with a co- op teacher who embraces these cutting edge ideas.
ReplyDeleteThe site you posted is very well organized and full of good insights. I will share with my co-op. The head principal in our building is evaluating teachers based on innovation and student engagement, which is very encouraging for the future of school environments.
ReplyDeleteI like all of your ideas. I am not sure if you chose not to include the following recommendation because it's obvious or not but....
ReplyDeleteWhat about blogs? I am finding that the students in my classroom REALLY don't like handwriting. In fact, a few of them say that they prefer to write on facebook the most. So, what if we use blog sites as a way to get our students to write? I think there is something to this, but I am not quite sure what exactly my brain is telling me. It's one of those moments where the lightbulb went off in my brain before I could actually figure out why it went off in the first place. Any help?
Claudia, that is a pretty sweet idea with the paintings. Did they have any problems making the connection to why you were showing them the paintings in the first place? Is there social studies teacher going over this time period right now?
Claudia, love love love the idea with the paintings, but I have the same exact questions as Steve does. I addition, how did the kids respond to this activity?
ReplyDeleteSteve, know exactly what you're talking about with the blogs. It's kind if the same idea I had with the podcasts. With those, it might help students who are shy and don't like to read in front of the class. With the blogs, there may be some students who don't like to write because they could make mistakes, but blogs allow them to check what they wrote before it's posted. For me, this idea relates to the digital native and how their brains are wired differently. Blogs might be a way to reach theses students when it comes to writing. Does that make sense? Am I even close to what you're talking about?
Steve, my co-op is integrating our writing classroom with the kids' social studies teacher. She began by telling them that there are many different kinds of "text" to be "read" in different ways: music, visual art, film, written word, etc. She then showed paintings individually on the overhead and asked leading questions about how the paintings exhibited the changes in social and political thought. It was so cool and the kids dug it! They were up to the task because of background knowledge she gave them of the period by using graphic organizers on the board while sharing info.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the kids would enjoy writing on blogs. I must campaign for that as part of my teaching and using Ollie's classroom blogs after we set them up.
@Steve...although, how will I do this without enough working laptops?
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