Cooperative Learning

I use cooperative learning quite a bit in my classroom.  The goal of the cooperative activity varies.  Sometimes it focuses more on the academic component and practicing a skill with one or more peers, while, for other activities, the goal is more to encourage and provide opportunity for students to work on social skills in an academic setting and communicating with others.  The reason this is important is simply to make other learning experiences more successful.  I often find that students come to my 3^rd grade room, not sure how to share and/or support their thoughts or ideas. The goal of a lot of my lessons is to get students talking so that their interests and ideas carry and direct the majority of our classroom conversations.

Reinforcing Effort

Reinforcing effort can happen in so many different ways, however, it is up to the teacher to determine which way works best and delivers the desired and appropriate message.  Reinforcement can come in the form of a sticker or high-five, it can be an example for others to follow, or even a follow-up question or response to a statement or question that a student may make.  There are times when we, as teachers, need to see the students as individuals and treat them as such (using the types of reinforcement that works best for him or her), however, it is also important to take time to see all of the students as a whole and also treat them as one unit. This may bring about another reinforcement strategy of using their peers to encourage or redirect their responses and actions.

Clay Shirky videos

When I watched the Clay Shirky videos, I had an extremely difficult time staying focused and being able to apply it.  They seemed to be disconnected from where my expectations thought the videos would be going.  I am person who likes simplistic vocabulary and they seemed to be a bit overwhelming with the amount that the viewer needed to keep track of. I had a hard time finding a connection to the school setting and experience, which is probably why I struggled to follow them.  Maybe, if I watch them at another time, when my world isn't totally focused on school (beginning of the year is so busy and demanding), then I might hear the big idea a bit more clearly.  However, in the mean time…I don't think that Clay Shirky is my cup of tea.