This week I learned something about being a teacher. Sometimes it's not the big things that matter, it's the little things. The other day the students were finishing up some work from the day before and some were making up quizzes. She told the students to pull out their notes and to create 4 questions, with the answers, that might end up on the test. They could be any format as long as they had the answers with them. She told them she had some questions but needed just a few more and she wanted their help in thinking of them. This might seem dumb, but the kids worked with intense concentration to make sure their questions were good enough to get picked. She then used their questions to play review "basketball." She divided the class up into 2 teams and she would ask someone on the team a question and you have 10 seconds to answer or have help from your team before you get a "lane violation" and the question goes to the other team. If the students answers the question correctly they can either shoot from the three point line or the two point line. At the end of the game the team with the most points wins. There was no prize. Whoever won just won, but it was so funny to see how competitive they all got. They took the game so seriously and in turn, took the questions seriously. I found it interesting and amusing how a simple game could be such great review. I remember playing games like that in school but not really understanding how the competition and desire to win made me focus on answering the questions.
The idea of letting students come up with their own test questions or playing a review game isn't a big deal, but it was to the students. They worked hard because they wanted their questions chosen to be put on the test. The also concentrated a little more because they wanted to win a silly game that meant absolutely nothing in the end. When I say "it's the little things" I mean that I learned that it doesn't take much for us to motivate students or make them feel like they have a role in their own learning. It was a big deal to them that their questions make it onto the test or that they won the game but it required little effort on the part of the teacher. It was a "little thing" but it yielded a big outcome.
Madelyn,
ReplyDeleteGreat post. You are exactly right. What seems like a little thing to us is often a big thing to a middle school student. That is a great lesson to learn early on. I'm glad you are really getting to see into the middle school psyche.
As you are continuing to reflect, think about how all of this connects to student learning and the NCTCS. Where would something like this activity fit in the NCTCS? Also begin thinking about what evidence you are creating. Start this now and you will be well set for next semester!