Students are teachers too!

Are you beginning to get that 'itch'? You know the signs:
You can't stop thinking about how to decorate your class;
You start gathering ideas from Pinterest;
(if you're like me) You begin having dreams related to your classroom.

Well as you prepare to go back here's a little encouragement. Now this advice is going to be pretty subjective but it stems from my personal study of the NEW Math TEKS. This summer, I’ve dedicated and budgeted a few hours each week to study grade by grade the New Math TEKS and familiarize myself with the expectations of students as we transition from what students were expected to know into what they’re going to be held accountable for this coming year.

In reflection, a gap is going to transpire and although that’s inevitable; it’s written in the fine print of our contracts that we are expected to close this gap. Hopefully, however, it’s also written on the Oaths of our hearts as educators to accomplish this feat.

So here’s how I am challenged to motivate my teachers…and hopefully how you are challenged to motivate yourself as you seek to empower your students:

1. Know what your students SHOULD know.

This includes unlearning what you “know” to a degree. We all bring to the table that good ole’ “I didn’t learn it this way” attitude when we approach teaching our students. And often times that hinders us from the opportunity to facilitate a diverse approach to learning for our students. What I love about Math is that there are various roads to one solution. Let your students explore and come to that realization. More conclusively, become a student of your TEKS (those you’re responsible to teach as well as what your student learned in the previous grade and what they will learn in the upcoming grade). But more specifically what they’re held accountable for in their current grade. Nothing more, nothing less.

2. Assess what they DO know.

 

Be creative in facilitating pre-assessments. This doesn’t have to be formative and long assessments. This can be quick “exit ticket” like questions or even fun warm-ups. This will help you not only get a feel for the diversity in your classroom (which will drive the differentiation in your classroom) but also help you know where to start teaching the curriculum. Make no assumptions. Though you and your team may teach the same subject, you all have different training, backgrounds and teaching styles. This is true of your students as well. They learn differently, and were taught different things. Assess to kill assumptions.

3. Facilitate closing the gap (between what you know they SHOULD know and what they DO know) by drawing on their knowledge and stretching it towards the goal.

Finally, contrary to popular belief you are NOT the KNOW IT ALL simply because you are the teacher. Trust that your students can unveil the truths in the curriculum, if you stretch them towards that end. This moves you from TEACHER to FACILITATOR. Letting your students struggle, correcting their misunderstandings and cooperative group exploration will practically cause them to understand what it is they should know. Your job is to provide environments and situations that promote this type of discovery; encourage them along the way (even in failure); and be patient with the process.

These are all things I’ve stumbled upon in my years in the classroom; yet they are also truths I’m learning to trust as my students have now become teachers! Happy School Year to you and yours!