Learning+about+students

// The most effective teacher influences their students in a personal, individual level that reaches further than a strict classroom setting. Since teaching and learning complement each other, learning about our students is a necessity to accomplish teaching them. Most teachers on average spend more time with their students during the day than these students spend with their parents. Therefore teachers must be willing to spend quality time with them and have a willingness to offer accessibility to their students. // Although taking time to work with each individual student might seem impossible, teachers must pose the question: How can we best help? The only way to answer this question is to get to know our students because with vital information such as their learning style and their backgrounds, the actual effectiveness of the learning process will be increased.

Learning about our students without a doubt will be a long process over the course of the school year, but the initial process can be fun. Some ideas include making Commonality Charts. Give each student a sheet of paper; have them fold it so that there are three columns. The teacher can give them three ‘Get-to-know-you’ prompts to either draw or write depending on their reading and writing level under each column. These prompts can include questions or a drawing of their family, their favorite thing to do at school or their favorite activities. Prompts really can be geared towards whatever questions the teacher wants to be answered.

One aspect of learning about our students is knowing their individual learning styles. As teachers, we can enhance the learning environment to fit the needs of each individual student. Success, in this way, becomes an attainable goal for the students as they discover their potential by understanding their learning style. **Introduction to Learning Styles** **Learning Style** - A pattern of behavior that humans use for new learning. Every person is unique. **Dimensions of Learning Styles** 1. Visual Learners – Learn best when they can take in new information through their eyes. - Like demonstrations - Find it easy to learn through descriptions, models, maps and other visual aids - Often use lists to organize thoughts - Recognize words by sight - Obtain vivid imaginations - Remember faces of people, not names 2. Auditory Learners – Learn best when they hear information through their ears and speak with their voices. - Enjoy discussions and music activities - Can remember what they hear through verbal repetition - Easily remember verbal instructions without writing them down - Find it difficult to learn by watching - Find it difficult to work quietly for extended periods of time
 * Perceptual** – Pertains to how students prefer to perceive information.

3. Kinesthetic Learners – Learn best through demonstration or hands-on experiences - Often do best when they are involved or active - Have high levels of energy, therefore learn best while moving - Would rather do than watch or listen - Find it hard to retain information given during an auditory or visual demonstrated lesson - Become physically involved in the subject being studied

hypothesizes that human beings are capable of seven independent means of information processing.
 * Processing** – Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences,

1. Plays with Words – Some people love language, therefore, like to tell, read and write stories. This type of learner is good at remembering facts.

2. Plays with Questions – Students like to figure things out by asking questions, exploring, and doing experiments. These learners are usually good at problem solving and analyzing.

3. Plays with Pictures – This person enjoys drawing, designing, and looking at pictures. Likes viewing videos, films, and other visual aids.

4. Plays with Music – This learner associates information through music. They love to listen to music.

5. Plays with Moving – Learning here has a kinetic component. These learners process information through the body while expressing ideas.

6. Plays with Socializing – This learner likes to be with groups of people. They share ideas and cooperate well with others.

7. Plays Alone – This person does better alone and does things at their own pace.


 * Combining Perceiving and Processing** – David Kolb’s model

//Four Dimensions// 1. Concrete experience – individuals learn from specific experience

2. Reflective observation – deals with watching others or developing observations about your own experience

3. Abstract conceptualization – creating theories to explain observations

4. Active experimentation – use theories to solve problems and you have the ability to get things done

//Four Quadrants// 1. Type I – Generally hands-on learners. They enjoy learning to real life situations.

2. Type II – Like to watch rather than do. These learners use their creative imagination.

3. Type III – Like to solve problems. Tend to shy away from social issues.

4. Type IV – Are logical learners and would rather deal with abstract ideas and concepts than people issues.

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Class Notes
Formative Assessment
 * ongoing and informal
 * quizzes (can be adapted to class' needs)
 * observations
 * asking random questions for understanding

Summative
 * chapter/unit tests
 * STAR testing
 * spelling tests

Personal View of Assessments Pros:
 * assess level of understanding
 * help teacher know what to teach or reteach *assessment driven instruction*
 * let teacher know what works and what does not
 * allow students to demonstrate or show off their knowledge
 * allow for teacher to be creative when assessing students

Cons:
 * takes a lot of prep time outside of class
 * STAR testing takes up instruction time
 * school becomes about getting high scores instead of learning
 * students/teachers may feel stressed or pressured to get higher scores
 * instruction may become "scripted" in order to "teach" in the most efficient way
 * less funding (of the little funding that we get) goes towards school supplies and books
 * (they are REALLY annoying [but that's just me])

Unfortunately, assessment is a part of life. We are always assessed by our bosses, coworkers, family members, friends and anyone else around us. If we, as educators, can instill good test taking skills and emphasize life application more than "fact retention", we will be helping the students better. Especially as Christians, we know what is truly important and God will not be looking at our classes' test scores at the pearly gates. If we can teach good skills and have a positive attitude through all of the pros and cons in teaching, we can present a good model for our students and hope that they understand what truly matters!

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Some of the most obvious ways of learning about students would be the regular, spending time observing or interacting with them, and although that is VERY important, there are some other ways to get to know students when trying to decipher each students learning styles. Surveying students is one option, where a teacher can create a multitude of questions to ask students on some sort of hand out in the early weeks of a new school year/semester to find out about families, favorite things and other interests that would help a teacher gauge how to best relate to the student. Additionally, activities such as having a student draw what they look like or what they enjoy most will often bring more information than expected, and in return that will greatly help the teacher to understand that students background and abilities. Finally, one of the most effective ways of getting to know a student would be looking at their Cumulative Folder and dissecting the different parts such as, the report cards, CELOT, the home language surveys, work samples, state test results, district test results, IEP/504. All of those items can give some deep insight to knowing a students learning abilities, but it is also important to spend time with the student themselves to gauge where they are at, as well as speaking with the parents and talking to previous years teachers. Making assessments geared towards specific students becomes much easier when there is a good foundation of knowledge on the student.=====

I remember doing 'Star of the Week' in elementary school, and each week a child would get to share a poster about themselves, and one year we were allowed a day of "show and tell". Students could bring in an item from home that they love and share about it. There are all sorts of ways that teachers can learn about their students, and these are a couple of ways. When teachers know their students on a personal level, knowing their likes and dislikes, they can create lessons that relate to the interest of the students. This lets the students know that the teacher cares about their personal interests outside of the classroom, and I think that is incredibly important. When students feel appreciated and safe, they will be more eager to learn and more comfortable asking questions when they do not understand something.