Blog #6

Q: What strategies does the teacher use to actively engage the students?  How effective are these?

I have noticed in the first grade the teacher tries to use as many objects as possible to have the students be hands on.  While doing math, the teacher uses objects to count, block 10 charts, and white boards.  Even the upper grades have small white boards for every student so they can be writing and practicing a problem.  I think the white boards are pretty effective.  Kids like to be the one to write, not just the teacher.  The white boards seem more fun than a pencil and paper because it's different and it's something they see their teacher use.  The first grade teacher also moves the students around so they aren't sitting in the same position for very long.  They can break out into pairs and sit anywhere in the classroom and work on an assignment, or they move to the rug for further instruction.  This helps those antsy little bodies keep from getting bored!  In fifth grade they talk in pairs or go up to the white board to demonstrate an answer.  This also gets them moving and keeps them from doing the same thing for too long.  The teachers also use phrases such as, "eyes and hands," which means the students need to be looking at the teacher and have their hands folded so they aren't playing with anything.  This helps the students to focus.