Sunday, February 2, 2014

Helping Students Reach Academic Success

In our third grade class, we use a workshop model for math.  This model includes a warm-up activity, a focus lesson, and then center time.  This format promotes maximum learning as it engages prior knowledge, respects the amount of time third graders can sit still and listen, and allows for immediate application with feedback.  To aid in the information retrieval process, as we begin a lesson, we have the students do a warm up.  This process pulls their minds into math and helps them recall the skills that will be needed in order to learn the new content.   

We keep the focus lesson as brief as possible to maintain engagement.  In this lesson we provide both abstract and concrete explanations and examples, to help students understand the content as thoroughly and in as many ways as possible.  We also encourage students to know their math facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication) so they can focus on the new content.  This automaticity helps to limit the demands on their working and long-term memory.   

Then during center time, students take 15-minute turns doing various math activities related to the day’s goals.  These may be flashcards, math games, or iPad apps.  This allows for application of the content, but is self-paced.  They also retain some ability to choose their center activities, and this choice helps to promote engagement and interest.  Furthermore, students at South Cedar are academically active and are happy to take part in class and classroom activities.  While sometimes reminders are needed, students will get back on task when asked.  Most students are motivated to learn and we try to keep it that way by designing lessons that set students up for success.      

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