I want to create an environment in my classroom where
students feel safe to share their ideas, ask questions, take risks, and make
mistakes. I’m not exactly sure how that fits in with the metaphor of planting
pedagogical seeds, but I know that learning is a process. To ensure that my
students will be able to read, to think, to create and to ponder, I have several
elements that I can implement in my classroom.
In order to become better readers, individuals need to read
a lot and not just for class assignments (although this should also be an
important aspect of a class). I intend to establish a classroom library and
promote the idea of reading for pleasure. Reading for pleasure is not something
I can assign to students or grade. Instead, I will make high-interest, current reading
material readily accessible to my students, and make it a regular practice to
share with my students what I am reading. In addition, reading should take
place with other forms of writing, not just novels. Therefore, I want to commit
a specific time each week to share interesting and relevant articles I have read
online, in the newspaper, and in magazines. Then in turn, I will ask students
to do the same. As my students become better readers, they will also improve
their critical thinking skills.
My role as the teacher is not to stand at the front of the
classroom and act as if I have all the answers. Students have valuable insights
to contribute to the class. Their learning is more meaningful if it comes
through their own exploration and evaluation of their ideas. A classroom ought
to be a place where learners can take risks because growth does not occur
through maintain a status quo. For students with different learning styles and
different strengths, I will ensure that my students will have multiple outlets
to share their ideas—through writing, discussions, art, technology, and more.
Thinking, creating, pondering do come out of rote memorization but of meaningful
experiences, and I hope to provide a classroom environment where students feel
free to do so.
Rather than I being like Johnny Appleseed, I want to instill
in my students a drive to help others, to spread kindness, like Johnny
Appleseed. The first step is to let my students know that their ideas matter
and that they are capable of making a difference in the lives of others.
I love your idea of trying to make all your students avid readers. I believe that reading helps promote critical thinking as well as it helps students question, ponder, and learn about a variety of topics. However, what about the students like me, who hated reading in grammar school? Maybe that comes from my teachers not having books that I was interested in, but what happens when you come across a student like that? I know you mentioned that you would bring in newspapers and magazines and I think that is a good way to get students interested in reading without them actually having to pick up a chapter book. I wonder if I had that option in grammar school, if I would have liked reading more. Furthermore, in class we have been reading graphic novels and I think that is another avenue to look into when putting together your classroom library. I would advise you to just be careful to get students like me involved with reading in different ways so that later in life they too can be successful and enjoy reading and learning like many others.
ReplyDeleteI think that your classroom ideas are great and I too want and will strive to have a classroom where learning takes place in different modalities and where students can guide themselves in areas that are of interest to them. I believe that it is very important for students to be able to learn what they are curious about, explore different techniques and creative avenues to expand their knowledge on all subject matters.
I think that just by asking questions, having our students ponder, and letting out students realize the seeking knowledge is power; we are “planting seeds” in their minds so that they can grow and become anyone they want to be. By letting our students seek out what they want to learn, we are like Johnny Appleseed because all you need is one idea, thought, or ponder and a whole orchard can be grown.
Yes, each classroom regardless of content and grade level, needs a class library for students to read and borrow books, magazines, newspapers, zines, etc. with a wide range of skill levels topics, themes and authors. Why can’t you have your students read for pleasure – since there are so any ways to ”read” today?
ReplyDeleteI do agree that learning, can indeed, be more meaningful through personal exploration of personal interests. Once that is indentified students will feel safe to take risks in their thinking and will then think and believe that their ideas do matter which in turn then leads them to greater exploration.
I love that you want your students to spread kindness – which is so very important.
I do think, however, that Johnny Appleseed was spreading kindness by ensuring others during his time would have something to eat. I also think he shared kindness because he wanted us, people he would never ever meet, to be able to eat an apple today.
Enjoy working with your students as you and they explore the world and share kindness in many ways.