This week we learned about two instructional strategies that embed technology within them. Those two strategies are reinforcing effort and homework/practice. These are just a few of the instructional strategies that can be used in a technology filled classroom.
As I mentioned in my discussion post, my school "39 Eagle Essentials" which are deemed as our rules. Everyone in the school follows these same rules. One of the Eagle Essentials is that homework must be turned in Tuesday through Thursday. With this rule in place, it makes students accountable for their work which in turn makes them pay attention better in class. My students are told from the first day of school that homework will not be given on material that has not been covered in class. I hold true to this because I want homework to be something that students can freely work on with out maximum help from mama or daddy. As stated in our reading, there needs to be either homework contracts or policies put into place. This helps to minimize disruptions and off tune behaviors because it makes students responsible.
Another instructional strategy mentioned was reinforcing effort. This tends to be extremely beneficial to the students especially if they are getting praised for great effort. In my classroom, I have all students try and they must make an effort to do the problem. I want them to feel comfortable making a mistake- that is how we learn. When we reinforce effort that lets students know that we care about them and believe in them. When students are being rewarded and praised for their efforts, that leads them to want to do well in school and have a mindset that they believe.
Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteI love your "39 Eagle Essential" about homework. What I'm not clear on is can they turn in homework any day Tuesday through Thursday or is that the days when it is assigned? I may want to use that idea next year. This year I'm on what's called a blocked schedule where I see my students every other day for 90 minutes at a time. So now the policy I have is that I give homework only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and it's due on Thursday or Friday, which is the next class meet.
I like seeing that you agree that homework policies or contracts need to be in place to help make the student responsible for their actions. What is the consequence for a student not turning in homework? What steps do you take to help extinguish and correct the behavior?
Hi Mindy! Thanks, it makes things a lot easier when the whole school follows the same rules and consequences. Students have homework Tuesday night through Thursday night therefore they are responsible for completing it each night of the week and returning it the next day. If students do not do their homework for the night, then their name goes on the board. That is the first warning in our consequences.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do think that having students complete homework is teaching them responsibility and if they don't complete it, then they have to pay the consequence(s). I give my students verbal praise a great deal. I also have a treat bucket that students are able to come too. Our school sales ice cream at lunch and we are able to give students ice cream tickets if they exhibit good behavior or do an extraordinary job at something. I normally use these to reward my students who do well on test or quizzes. So in other words, a lot of extrinsic motivation. :)
Funny you should mention making mistakes. I had happened to make a typo in a wiki post for my students and they caught it. I admitted that sometimes I don't catch everything. Apparently, teachers aren't supposed to make mistakes because they're teachers!
ReplyDeleteWe have homework policies and contracts at my school. I do opportunity room for 4th and 5th grade at recess, which is a reteach of misbehavior and a time to complete homework that wasn't done the night before. Even though students know that not completing their work means they will work on it the next day, I still tend to see the same 4th grade students in my room over and over again. These students don't seem to mind completing the work on their free time.
What is your school's policy for not turning in work on the designated days? And off topic, but I take it your mascot is the eagle as well?
Tiffany, first let me compliment you on your blog layout - it is bright, colorful and cheery! :)
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that your school has a set of common expectations for all students - and it has a clever name! Like Rachel, I was wondering what the policy is for Mondays and Fridays. Also, is the entire faculty on board with that homework policy? I ask because at my school, teachers have such diverse philosophies regarding homework, and any attempt to create a uniform policy has resulted in pretty heavy debate.
Rachel: The "opportunity room" is aptly-named, and puts a positive spin on what others might perceive as a punishment. It is yet another way to give students ownership of their decisions. I love it!
Heather, thanks!! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, our mascot is the Eagle. As far as homework goes, since students are not assigned homework over the weekend, there is no homework due on Mondays. As I thought about it, my post should have originally said homework is to be turned in Tuesday through Friday. Homework is assigned Monday night through Thursday night. I hope this clarifies any confusion. Please let me know if it doesn't. Yes, turning in homework each night is one of the 39 Eagle Essentials, therefore everyone in the school follows the same policy. If students fail to turn in their homework, their name goes on the board which is the first consequence.
As far as homework detention or anything of that nature, my grade level does not do it but I do know that our 4th grade team has homework detention. Those students who did not complete their homework has to stay in from recess to complete it.
Go eagles :)
ReplyDeleteI do not assign homework over the weekend either, but it's not a school policy. I don't think any teacher does. We also try not to assign homework over breaks, though I had a small assignment for one of my groups over spring break.
Homework in opportunity room does not seem to phase some. I sometimes have the same 4th grade students every week. Their teachers dock points for late work, but again, no effect. The effort is not put forth, so perhaps a careful study of the effort rubric is needed.
Heather- The name works well, and for the most part, many students only need to visit once before learning that their behavior or action is not appropriate for school. The students often have to practice whatever it is that landed them there (if possible), and they also fill out a reteach form for logging purposes. Since it's done during recess, this prompts some students to rethink carefully the next time. They don't like having their time taken away.
Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteyou mentioned "39 Eagle Essentials". Are these 39 rules that your students must know and remember? I am guessing that these are school rules, not personal rules. I agree that if they know the expectations, they will be more successful, however, 39 seems to be a huge amount of rules for students to remember.
I completely agree about homework helping to minimize disruptions in the classroom. Homework helps the students have a sense of responsibility.
I love the title, "Eagle Essentials". 39??? Wow, seems like a lot. Each teacher in our school has essential agreements in their classrooms that are determined by the students during the first week of school. Most agreements have 4-5 specific to that particular classroom. For example, an essential agreement in my classroom is every student will wear safety glasses when working. This agreement wouldn't make much sense in a literature class, but makes total sense in the engineering lab when students are using band saws and the like.
ReplyDeleteMy school mascot is the warrior and we have "warrior card" that are passed out when a random act of kindness are witnessed. The warrior cards can be used for a homework pass, which adds an extra day to the assignment without incurring late penalty points. A school favorite is to use the cards at the school store to purchase school necessary items such as pencils, paper or erasers.