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Showing posts from January, 2012

Creativity at Work

We had the luxury of spending a lot of time on writing this week.  Students were given the opportunity to create their own books.  These books will be sent to a company to be bound in hardcover...they will look like an authentic publication.   With an assignment such as this I was faced with a decision.  Do I narrow the scope of what can be written to keep the lessons associated with the writing uniform and accessible to all at one time or do I allow students to choose their writing format and differentiate the lessons based on those choices?  Do I set up parameters for their writing in terms of content or do I give them the freedom to explore any topic they wish to pursue?  In short, do I narrow the focus for them or widen it?   There are advantages to each approach from a teaching and learning perspective.   If the focus is narrowed it allows the teacher to go into greater detail about how to complete the writing style offere...
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The Excitement of Play

All week they anticipated the snow.  They may have had no idea it was coming but they anticipated it nonetheless.  It seemed unnatural to them that it was warm in the beginning of January; it seemed unnatural to them that they were sweating after recess. When it finally did snow the kids of Room 202 celebrated with a voracious appetite for play.  They understood that our school work came first and they dedicated themselves to that prospect. During the week they worked hard; they remained focused.  Working in groups, for the many subjects we learn about, lends itself well to the winter months.  It keeps the children active in the classroom and engaged in the content.  It provides enough structure to foster comfort as well as independence.  It helps the time go by more quickly and results in more learning; simply for the fact that they are actually doing something rather than being sedentary.    When the time comes for a br...
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