Greetings!
I hope you enjoy this issue, which focuses on reviewing content in new ways. That's always a challenge, and I hope you can use or adapt the ideas for your students.
For the new year, I'm planning issues on high expectations, connecting with students and parents. Are there other issues you'd like to see? Let me know via Twitter, Facebook, or my blog.
Enjoy this issue, forward it to friends and colleagues, and as always, please contact me with any feedback or questions.
Barbara
|
|
Reviewing for Understanding
I think one of the hardest things to do in a classroom is to review content, without repeating yourself. At times, I felt like I was the only one reviewing! It's important to use higher levels of questioning, as well as shifting ownership to students.
One of my favorites for reviewing vocabulary is to have students write riddles. Instead of writing their own definition, which too often means rearranging the words from the original definition, I ask them to use what they know to create a riddle that will stump other students. It must be true, and should not give away the answer too soon.
This review activity works with all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in primary grades, you might do a short riddle, such as: I'm shiny when I'm new, my group of five equals 25, what am I? The answer...a nickel.
However, look at the complexity of this riddle from a high school social studies class:
I'm known as a party school,
My mascot changes regularly,
Popularity doesn't necessarily rule.
What am I?
A great activity that is fun, requires analysis and application skills, and students are responsible for doing the work instead of us. By the way, have you figured out the answer to the second riddle? It's the electoral college. And the students who wrote this really understood the concept. |
|
Do you know how much time is spent in classrooms reviewing material? One of the best strategies I've used is quick drop-ins, when you are only looking at the content taught. Rather than going from class to class at a certain grade level, choose a specific subject, such as language arts/reading or science. Just visit those classrooms or times, all in one day. It will provide an overview of how much content is repeated in multiple grades, and how much review is occurring.
|
I hope you found a new idea! Remember, if you would like to see daily tips and strategies, check out my blog. And, if you'd like to share a tip and see your name in my e-newsletter, contact me! As a thank you for being a reader of my e-newsletter, my publisher, Eye on Education, is offering a special discount on my books. Through January 31, 2012, if you use the code BB1211, they will take 10% off the regular price. Finally, take a few moments to remember why you became a teacher or leader. Write it down, and reflect on it regularly. it will help you stay motivated for the new year!
Sincerely,
Barbara Blackburn
Blackburn Consulting Group |
|
|
|
Tips for Engaging Learners
| |
Missy Miles uses "Will the Real Christopher Columbus please stand up?" as a review game. All students stand, and she asks questions about Columbus. Those who know the answer remain standing. She increases the complexity of her questions, until there is only one Christopher Columbus still standing. This is a great game that can be adapted for characters in a story, historical figures, or different types of jobs/workers.
|
|
Remarkable Resources
|
This site provides templates for many popular games, such as Jeopardy and Concentration.
Looking for more ideas? Cybraryman has lots of links for just about everything! You can google review activities and your subject areas or grade level and you'll find specific sites with ideas and strategies! I'm reading by Morgan and Saxton. I particularly like Chapter 9, which discusses how you handle answers to questions. There are sample lessons and links to the concepts of motivation, engagement, and democracy in the classroom. It's a good reminder that it's not just the game--it's the level of questions in the game!
|
|
|
