The
brain is an amazing organ. It controls the entire body and allows for
learning to take place. It's also a very particular organ. Despite the
fact that it has millions of tasks to accomplish every minute it grows
bored. Yes...bored.
Part of my job as a teacher is to stimulate the brains of my students. To capture their attention and cause them to seek more information, to explore beyond their comfort level, and to see the world in a slightly different way than they have before. Knowing that the brain gets bored easily when subjected to redundancy, a teacher employs many different strategies to combat that boredom. A new perspective must be provided to spark the brain awake!
Think of Fall, or any change of the seasons. The beauty of nature elicits creativity and a renewed sense within the brain. Fall's colors, Winter's pristine snow, Spring's vibrancy, and Summer's green all provide a new perspective.
This week we changed the seating arrangement in the classroom for the first time. For the students it is exciting because they get to sit next to new people. For me it's exciting because I know that when a person is moved from a seat they have been in for a while, the new perspective wakens the mind. It gives them a fresh look at the room, the environment, and their place in it. I have found that the week seats change is always a high energy week in the classroom...I try to capitalize on that occurrence and use it to learning's advantage.
We accomplished much this week after the initial excitement of a new seating arrangement dissipated. We learned about how writing introductions and conclusions mirror one another; depending on each other for continuity. We learned that the volume of an object does not change simply because the shape of the object may change. We learned about political maps; their uses and design. We learned about facts and opinions and how to identify them while reading.
Most of the lessons this week were part of group work. The learning environment was active, moving, and engaging. We worked together; sharing ideas, moving around the room from activity to activity, and creating hands-on demonstrations of learned concepts.
The energy taken from the new perspective through changed seats was harnessed and put to effective use. As a teacher I am proud of my students for the work they did, the engaged learning they experienced, and the growth that followed.
As Fall approaches we can say farewell to another summer passed...then we can turn our minds to the incredible display that we will encounter as Autumn provides us with a fresh, new perspective.
Copyrighted material of Michael C. Casten
Part of my job as a teacher is to stimulate the brains of my students. To capture their attention and cause them to seek more information, to explore beyond their comfort level, and to see the world in a slightly different way than they have before. Knowing that the brain gets bored easily when subjected to redundancy, a teacher employs many different strategies to combat that boredom. A new perspective must be provided to spark the brain awake!
Think of Fall, or any change of the seasons. The beauty of nature elicits creativity and a renewed sense within the brain. Fall's colors, Winter's pristine snow, Spring's vibrancy, and Summer's green all provide a new perspective.
This week we changed the seating arrangement in the classroom for the first time. For the students it is exciting because they get to sit next to new people. For me it's exciting because I know that when a person is moved from a seat they have been in for a while, the new perspective wakens the mind. It gives them a fresh look at the room, the environment, and their place in it. I have found that the week seats change is always a high energy week in the classroom...I try to capitalize on that occurrence and use it to learning's advantage.
We accomplished much this week after the initial excitement of a new seating arrangement dissipated. We learned about how writing introductions and conclusions mirror one another; depending on each other for continuity. We learned that the volume of an object does not change simply because the shape of the object may change. We learned about political maps; their uses and design. We learned about facts and opinions and how to identify them while reading.
Most of the lessons this week were part of group work. The learning environment was active, moving, and engaging. We worked together; sharing ideas, moving around the room from activity to activity, and creating hands-on demonstrations of learned concepts.
The energy taken from the new perspective through changed seats was harnessed and put to effective use. As a teacher I am proud of my students for the work they did, the engaged learning they experienced, and the growth that followed.
As Fall approaches we can say farewell to another summer passed...then we can turn our minds to the incredible display that we will encounter as Autumn provides us with a fresh, new perspective.
Mr. Casten
Sept. 21, 2012
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