Wrapping It Up...

What I have taken away most from this class is how to look at my lessons.  I took a lot from looking at each of the learning strategies and finding new and easy ways to apply them, without having to reinvent the lesson.

When I evaluated the lesson that I modified for our final project, I found so many simple and quick ways to address the learning goals and student needs.  When I saw the reactions of my students when I taught the mini-unit to them and the pride that they seemed to feel as they took control of their learning made me so excited.

I look forward to looking at many other lessons and units in this same manor.  It isn't realistic to recreate and reinvent every bad lesson so that it can be great.  But we can adjust details of it.

Good Reminders

This week's readings on the Internet had some great information about some of the best ways to teach students.  While reading the information, I found myself being reminded of some great teaching strategies that I will want to remember as the start of a new school year quickly approaches.  Making sure that instruction has several components to it (whole group, small/individual group, and projects) that are all focused around achieving student success and comprehension of material.

I definitely enjoyed reading "What Works In Classroom Instruction" much more than the reading on theory and analysis of research.  I found it hard to follow and stay focused on it, most-likely because of interest level of the two pieces.

I am interested in what this course has to offer and think that it fits in well to be taking it early in the school year so that new ideas can be implemented during the year.