IDEA WAVE Teaching Strategy

Are you looking for a fun activity to check for understanding? Here is a great teaching strategy the entire class can participate in. Read below for the directions for an IDEA WAVE. 

After students learn about a specific topic each student shares ideas they learned about that topic.

·         A volunteer begins the “idea wave” by sharing one idea.

·         The students to the right of the volunteer shares one idea; the next student to the right shares one idea.

·         The teacher directs the flow of the “idea wave” until several different ideas have been shared. 

At the end of the formal "idea wave, " a few volunteers who were not included can contribute an idea.

To put a twist on the idea wave, ask all students to stand and share information they learned about the topic. Tell the students that they must speak in complete sentences using academic langauge. (I post word walls for every unit for students to refer to). I say to the class, "the person who goes first is the person who is speaking". They cannot repeat information that someone else has already said, so they need to listen carefully. The goal for the students is not to be the last person standing. 

This is a great way to assess your student's knowledge about any topic and then be able to reteach information if necessary. 

To see more teaching strategies click HERE!

Happy Teaching!

Chalk Dust Diva

Cooperative Groups Student Responsibilities and Procedures

Are you looking for a successful classroom management strategy? I was first introduced to this cooperative group strategy 16 years ago when I was completing my student-teaching, and I have used it ever since!  It can be used for any grade level or course of study!

Each quarter my students are assigned teams  and will compete for extra credit points with the other team members. This works very well for classroom management because the students manage themselves! For example, you may decide to take away an extra credit point to a student who is not on task. Because he is losing points for the entire group, his group members will pressure him to get to work. Peer pressure works every time!

The beginning of the Power Point begins with a class discussion about what qualities employers look for in hiring employees. One of the most important qualities is the ability to work cooperatively . Then it reviews student responsibilities and procedures when working with a group and explains how teams can earn and lose points.

Also included in this purchase is a Team Winner Certificate (4 different versions) to be given to the winning team members for the quarter and a Team Point Chart for the teacher to use to keep track of the team points.

So if you want to make your classroom run itself, check this product out by clicking HERE! 

Effective Classroom Management Strategies

I have been a Master Teacher for more than 10 years and it is a very rewarding experience.  The #1 problem my student-teachers face in the classroom is learning and using effective classroom management strategies. The Universities that many student-teachers attend often  focus more on lesson planning than classroom management. Unfortunately, one could create the best lesson on paper, but if effective classroom management strategies are not used, the lesson will not work. So, before my student teacher takes over the classroom we review and practice the following classroom management strategies that I find most effective:

1. Have a few classroom rules:   Here are my rules:

            1) Everyone, including the teacher, will be treated with respect.

            2) Put-downs or purposely hurtful comments or actions will not be
                tolerated.

            3) No one will be allowed to disrupt the learning process of others.

2. Have clear consequences: For example:
          First Infraction: Warning
          Second Infraction: Conference with the Teacher
          Third Infraction: Teacher Detention
          Fourth Infraction or Defiance: Referral to VP
   
Be sure to be fair and consistent with your consequences. If you say your are going to do something, then be sure to do it!
   
3. Procedures, Procedures, Procedures. It is vital to have a procedure for everything your students do in the classroom, from how students are to enter the classroom, to how they get into their groups, even how they ask a question. If you create and practice procedures in the first month of school, by the second month your class will be a "well oiled machine"!

4. Use proximity. If you notice a student is off task,  instead of disrupting the lesson by asking the student to get back on task, simply move towards that student. Most likely, the student will get back on task without you having to say a word.

5. Use whole-class positive narration. Instead of focusing on students who are off task, give attention to those students who are on task. This will remind the off-task students what they need to be doing without taking your attention off the entire class. For example, "Thank you Jennifer for taking your items off your desk". Or, "I appreciate those of you who are reading the directions".

6. Delegate Tasks. A teacher needs to focus on the classroom as much as possible. Therefore, be sure to delegate tasks to the students so you can focus on the class. For example, I have a specific place in my room where students go to get their absent work. I also post all of my assignments on-line. Therefore, I don't have to spend any time with students who have been absent.

7. "Ask 3 Before Me" strategy. If students have questions about directions, homework, etc. have the students ask three other students before they ask you. This will make sure you can focus on the entire class rather then specific individuals.

8. Build Rapport. One of the best classroom management tools is to build rapport with the students. If the students know that you care and respect them, they will often care and respect you. They will want to be good for you. Stand by the door when the students enter the classroom and engage them in quick conversations. Compliment the students. Take a few minutes of class time to have the students get to know you on a personal basis. For example, tell them about what you did over the weekend and ask them the same.

9. Get their Attention. When you want to get your students attention, have a procedure in place to do that. For example, you might ring a bell, hold up your hand and have the students do the same, clap and have your students repeat the number of claps until all students have your attention. Once you have their attention give directions from the same spot in the room. Never try to talk over the students. If the students begin talking, wait to talk until they have stopped. Use positive reinforcement often. For example, "Thank you for your attention". "Thank you for being quiet while I am talking". Respect goes along way, especially with high-school students.

10. Be assertive. Many of my student-teachers are only a few years older than my high-school seniors. So, they must be assertive and have a commanding presence. The way you speak and carry yourself can go along way in commanding the classroom.