Strong (2002) states, “Teachers who successfully employ a range of strategies reach more students because they tap into more learning styles and student interests” (p. 43). Has this been your experience as a student? Give an example to either support or refute this statement.
Strong, J.H. (2002). Qualities of effective teachers. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
I definitely agree that using multiple strategies can tap into more learning styles and get information across to students. When learning a concept, it helps me as a student to see the information in different ways. For example, in one of my classes, the teacher lectures for a short amount of time then gives us the opportunity to connect the information to situations in our lives. Another way this teacher incorporates different strategies is to show movie clips. The movies always correspond to something we are learning and the teacher always explains how the clip was relevant to something we were learning. Seeing the information on a power point, in discussion, and on screen really help me to learn and understand the information.
ReplyDeleteI think it is necessary for teachers to use a range of teaching strategies throughout their instruction. I know that some teachers I have had were very good at this. There would be some ways they taught a lesson that really would not motivate me but then other strategies or activities they did really interested me. Teachers are not always going to find ways to engage every student at one time but if they are able to be flexible and branch out with the strategies they use they will be able to connect to a lot more of their students. If a teacher only teaches in one way then they will really only connect with one type of learner. It is important to remember that each student has their own way of learning and utilizing different strategies. Teachers can use different strategies by making some lessons more teacher directed and others more learner directed. They can also provide ways for students to show their work using multiple means of expression and not just assessing their knowledge in one way.
ReplyDeleteUsing different teaching strategies is one of the most important techniques teachers can use to reach student achievement. One example that I can remember when a teacher used multiple learning strategies to teach a particular concept was when I was in elementary school. Many of my teachers divided our classes into different level reading groups, where each group read a different level book. Eventually students from different levels of groups would get together and discuss there books, which would provide each student with examples of different thinking levels. By doing this the students can develop and learn from each other. This is one teaching strategy that I really enjoyed in elementary and found to be very effective.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this quote. I think it is important to try and connect with as many students as possible. Everyone learns differently and has different interests.Not every teacher understands this though. Many teachers think that their way is always correct and don't want to acknowledge that there are other ways to learn. My favorite high school teacher had a college lecture style class but included movies, research projects, and group character skits into his lessons. There was something for everyone and it kept us all excited about class. A GOOD teacher knows the right balance to keep their students involved.
ReplyDeleteI took a humanities class here last semester and I had a teacher who would lecture on Tuesdays, have group presentations on Thursdays, and have a weekly question we had to answer. After a while it got a little repetitive but I did like how he used different strategies to teach lessons. To be honest I didn’t get much out of the lectures, the questions helped a little more, but I feel like I learned a lot through the presentations, especially my own. I liked how he mixed the days up so it wasn’t all lecture or all presentation. I feel as though my elementary curriculum teacher does a great job of this as well. Were always doing something different in her class and some days we do three different types of activities in fifty minutes. I feel like I get a lot out of that class opposed to some of my other ones. It just goes to show that even in college courses using different strategies can be very effective.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jennifer about using movie clips in the classroom. I think some students will remember this information better and find new ways to connect the information they learned in class with the movie. There are also many options- both entertaining and educational. I remember the School House Rock movie clip we watched in middle school to learn the preamble to the constitution. It was great and I still remember it to this day!
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Kristi said about the different lesson plans. She said adapting lessons to either teacher directed or learner directed can make a world of difference. I've just recently learned about the difference between the two types of lessons in my Learning and Instruction class. The learner directed lessons are more hands-on type activity learning, while teacher directed are mostly the teacher lecturing or giving assignments. Some students learn more effectively if they can experience the subject matter hands on, these students would benefit from a learner directed lesson where as some students need that structure of a teacher directed plan.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it is very important for teachers to use a variety of teaching styles and strategies. All students have a different way of learning, so it is essential for teachers to tap into many different ways for each lesson, so that every child is learning to their fullest potential. As a student, I have found that many different styles and strategies work well. For me, it depends on the subject area to decide which learning style will work best. I think that this also connects to the last blog about motivation. If a child is learning the material in a way they like and can understand and comprehend, then they will be more motivated to learn.
ReplyDeleteI agree that teachers who successfully employ a range of strategies are able to reach more students because they tap into more learning styles and student interests. This has been my experience as a student, especially in high school. I was in an Astronomy class where the teacher had us take a personality quiz as well as pick our preference for how we would like to be learn about the different topics. The choices were lecture/tests, projects, or smaller project and quizzes. My personality test and my preference matched up and I did the "project only" way of learning. I was required to read certain chapters and do certain activities online and then create projects that met the guidelines the teacher set. We then presented them to the class. I appreciated that we got to choose how we would learn because all students learn in different ways and the project based way of learning is the best for me because I always think back to meaningful projects and remember what it is I researched or created a project about. The students that did small projects and quizzes or tests appreciated the choice as well because they felt that how they were learning was the most beneficial way for them.
ReplyDeleteI agree that teachers who successfully employ a range of strategies are able to reach more students because they tap into more learning styles and student interests. I have experienced this especially in high school. in my AP Lit classes I always thought it was useful for my teachers to not only have us read the books but act out different scenes in the books, create projects, and write papers. When I was allowed to explore the book more,not just through words, but through my peers point of views I appreciated the literature more. I really enjoyed the independence my teacher allowed me to have instead of lectures and papers we got to interact with one another and it just made learning a whole lot more fun.
ReplyDeleteI find Amanda's point, of exploring literature more not only through projects and papers but also through other peers' point of view, to be interesting and very true. By encouraging student disscussion about topics or lessons is another strategy to keep students engaged and learning so much more about what they're reading or doing. I also find that by having group discussions over topics I may not understand helps me grasp certain topics and information easier and sometimes faster.
ReplyDeleteI believe this is true because by doing this all students will learn at their best levels at some point or another. I do believe though that you shouldn't teach based on what kind of learning styles your students have rather what learning style fits what your teaching. This way your not teaching the same learning style all the time based on your students. As a student in college now I feel like a lot of my classes are lecture based. This certain strategy is not the best for me so as I take many classes I have learned the way I learn best. I have a teacher now who involves many strategies with in one lecture. Even though he tells us a lot of information in powerpoint form he also includes charts and video clips and pictures that are great for me. If I could learn that way all the time I would be very happy. I also learn a lot better if I connect information to realy life situations this is often how I study for things. I do think that as a teacher you keep in mind how you learn best but by using th multiple strategies that gives your students a wide range.
ReplyDeleteUsing different learning strategies is a great way to reach your students. Students learn in multiple ways so it is important to use different types of teaching so all of your students have the opportunity to learn. I really like when teachers explain a topic and then use hands on activities to help us relate to what is being taught. This helps me because I am not only hearing the lesson, but then right after I hear it, I get to practice it. Just recently I learned in my Learning and Instruction class that it is important to let students be creative. I think by doing hands on activities you are giving students a huge opportunity to express their creativity side. The other learning strategy that I like are group discussions. I think group discussions help to get students thinking and involved in conversation. Also, this allows students to hear other's ideas which can be beneficial.
ReplyDeleteI think that Liz's example is great. I have done a personality quiz before but have never put it together to figure out the strategies. I love the idea of doing this as a teacher because you will be able to see a what kind of learning strategies your students have that is concrete. As a teacher I think is great because otherwise you are guessing but as a elementary teacher I don't think this kind of test would work the best. The students at that age won't know if they like tests or projects better. I think as a elementary teacher you have to use the multiple strategy process because that will best suit both you as a teacher and your students. I think Liz's story was great and a great tool for teachers to use.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this quote. I feel that students learn things by doing different things. I know I like to be more hands on and interactiv with the stuff I do. I have a hard time just getting lectured at or reading a book then spitting out what I'm told to remember. I remember my Spanish class we would have to write stories and play games using the words we were working on that certain week. We would also make up songs for better memorizations. I can sing the preamble from American Lit. However, if you asked me to say it I would draw a blank. I think tapping into students' ways of thinking are improtant.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Amanda. There are so many activites you can do with Literature. Exploring Literature through more than reading and writing would have helped me. I think it would have given me something more than just words to try to look back on. I would have been able to say remember that time we acted out Romeo and Juliet. I think moments like that would really help students have more connections with the written language.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with this because a variety of instructional strategies gives you the opportunity to find out what works for the students and what does not. It also lets you see what they will respond to in a positive way and what they will respond to in a negative way. A teacher with many tools in their toolbelt will be able to connect quicker with the students and gear the lessons towards their way of learning. I had a teacher in high school who always did something exciting. I was so excited to be in his class because the lessons were always taught differently. That was beneficial because it taught me what kind of learner I am and how I could continue to teach myself in a way that works for me.
ReplyDeleteI liked how Kristi's professor incorporated different teaching strategies to a Humanities class. It's great to see a professor in college teaching lessons in different ways. Mixing things up is a good way to keep students' attention and also keep them learning. I sure wish I had different things to look forward to during my Humanities class. It would have kept me more engaged and interested.
ReplyDelete