posting 11

I believe the best way to engage a student in the lesson is to one make it personal and two make it simple.  Because I am a history major I always try to find a way to relate my lesson/topic to today's world.  Or I simply present the topic by probing students to imagine how it would effect them if some similiar change took place.  For example I just taught a lesson on the "Trail of Tears" where the Cherokee Nation was uprooted from their homeland and were made to walk about 1000 miles to a new unfamiliar land.  I oppenly asked students what types of things are needed to have a civilized community.  Ex water, housing, school, form of government, etc..  So I then had them analyze the effects of the "Trail of Tears" on the Cherokee people.  They all showed signs of empathy and I could see that they were thinking or imaging how their family would react to that kind of experience.

Travelling Story

The travelling story activitiy is fun and helps students to be spontaneously creative.  I do feel that it is important for the teacher to facilitate and be sure the students are remaining focused with the specific topic if there is one.  It would also help students tap into their understanding or prior knowledge of a topic.  For example if covering the Middle Ages during a world history section students can focus their story on the lives of peasants or the different social structures.

cross curr

So far this is what I have put together, pretty broad, it's for a 10th grade class. 

TEKS Topic:

(20)  Research/Research Plan. Students ask open-ended research questions and develop a plan for answering them. Students are expected to:

(A)  brainstorm, consult with others, decide upon a topic, and formulate a major research question to address the major research topic; and

(B)  formulate a plan for engaging in research on a complex, multi-faceted topic.

Four areas: ELA, World History, Theatre, and Science

ELA Lesson Plan:

Seek sources for research - Plan design, data collection, taking notes

Locating and using primary sources

Present findings

Informative & pursuasive writing

To write an informative paper is to give information of an idea or directions.  Some informative writing will consist of directions in a step by step order.

An example to teach this style of writing can consist of an activity that teaches planning such as planning an event.  Students can be given an assignment to plan a birthday party in order of activities such as the food, cake, gifts, etc...

Writing a pursuasive paper should include information the writer will use to convince their audience of something. 

Words or ideas that sound appealing to the reader should be used.  Students can be given an assignment to convince their parents to let them learn how to drive.  Students can list three main reasons and support their reasons with pursuasive language.

Writing

There are steps involved when writing.  A well thought process for writing will ensure the material is conveying a clear message.  The process includes Pre-writing such as brainstorming or developing an outline followed by a draft of ideas.  Upon completition of a first draft revisions can then be made to add or delete ideas and finally editing. 

Good reader?

I believe a good reader is someone who has good comprehension.  However, comprehension can stem from prior knowledge.  Prior knowledge is key for a reader to understand the topic or subject in the material.  Vocabulary and articulation is important for a reader to be able to move through a piece of reading material.  I believe that I am a good reader.  I have a pretty good vocabulary bank which helps me to recognize words while reading, along with their definition.  I have never really struggled throughout my education in comprehension and I've learned a wide range of material which helps with my prior knowledge.

I believe that if students are taught the reason for being an effective reader and writer it may spark motivation.  Students lack motiviation as they are too busy caught up in the obstacles they face as adolescense.

Games

I will use games in my classroom as a learning activity.  I believe they are a tool for motivation as it creates a challenging experience between teams, groups or individual students.  Games are an important source of motivation as they can be fun and exciting and offer a feeling of accomplishment and reward.

Motivation

The definition of motivation is a feeling of empowerment and drive someone has about a certain event or goal.

Motivation means a great deal to me.  It is the driving force that helps me continue with the challenges I face in my life.  I find motivation in different things.  The most important key to my motivation is setting a standard of strong will for my children.  I am motivated by intrinsic factors such as self pride and the feeling of accomplishment.  Their are extrinsic factors that motivate me such as financial security.  Many factors come in to play and they are shifted around in my list of priorties.