5 Creative Strategies to Facilitate Student-driven Learning

5 Creative Strategies to Facilitate Student-driven Learning (0) Generation Z is finally entering our high school classrooms: 21st century learners who are digitally literate and determined to take charge of their learning.  Consequently, teachers need to adjust their strategies and give students more voice and ownership. When the classroom moves from teacher-centered to student-centered, more learning takes place and students tend to be more engaged in the lesson. The student-centered classroom allows for more differentiation and personalized learning. Making the transition into a student-centered classroom can be a challenge. Below are some strategies for getting started with creating a successful learning environment: 1. GENIUS HOURS Give students choice in their learning by allowing them to explore their own passions through a Genius Hour. With this strategy, students choose the topic they would like to research, and then decide on a final project through which they will showcase their work.  The teacher becomes the facilitator in this process, and deadlines are very lenient, or in some cases, non-existent. The students are given a certain number of days or weeks to research the topic and design a final project. When the students are truly interested in the topic, they are more motivated to learn. You can learn more about Genius Hour here. For younger students, read Don Wettrick’s post  about Genius Hours in elementary schools. 2. SOCRATIC SEMINARS Some teachers find it difficult to step aside and allow students to lead the discussion, but with Socratic Seminars, the entire discussion and learning process is student-centered. In my classroom, I provide students with a list of dates for Socratic Seminars. Students must prepare in advance by coming to class with at least five questions/insights that they would like to discuss  about the reading. In addition, they must provide evidence from the text to support all thoughts and opinions. On the day of the seminar, one student begins by posing a question and giving his or her thoughts. The rest of the students begin to respond through a round-table discussion. After the seminar, I have students reflect on the class discussion and their personal contributions to it. To view the reflection sheet, click here. There are two ways to do Socratic Seminars: The entire class can be a seminar and the students arrange their desks in a fishbowl setupâ€"two circles are set up in the room and the inner circle faces the outer circle. Those in the inner circle lead the discussion for the day by posing questions and directing the conversation, while those in the outer circle respond throughout the discussion. Halfway through the class period, the circles switch roles and the outer circle leads the conversation while the inner circle responds. Note: To ensure that all students are focused throughout the discussion, I grade the students on their level of contributions/insights and classroom etiquette during the Socratic Seminar. It is also helpful when students grade themselves throughout the discussion and maintain personal records of their contributions to each Socratic Seminar.   The other method is to have students work in small groups  of four or five and hold their own mini Socratic Seminars. For this, I allow the students to choose their own groups, as I believe it is important for students to be with the ones whom they would enjoy discussing the text. If you’re interested in implementing Socratic Seminars at the middle school level, check out Socratic Smackdown. 3. JIGSAW STRATEGY The jigsaw strategy is still one of my favorites for student-centered instruction. Students are originally placed into small groups of three or four, and then each student is assigned a topic to research. The group then separates, and each student joins the other students in class who are assigned the same topic. They work together to research the topic and to become “experts.” Once they have finished their research, students go back to their original groups and each shares what he/she has learned. Through this method, students teach each other, and as the research proves, students learn best when they teach their peers. 4. CLASS JIGSAW STRATEGY Similar to the regular jigsaw method, I often separate the class into small groups and assign each group a different reading. The students in each group work together to read and analyze a passage or article and then discuss it. At the end of class (or even the next day), all of the groups come together as one and share their readings and small group discussion with everyone else. The other groups then respond to the small group’s discussion and add their own insights, allowing for a large class conversation. 5. NO MORE CALLING ON STUDENTS Teachers are often used to being the ones to call on students for answers, but in the student-centered classroom, students should be allowed to run the discussion. To do this, it is important to do away with calling on students, and giving that right to them. In other words, the teacher may pose a question and then call on a student to respond, but once that student speaks, he or she calls on the next student (with a hand raised) to join the discussion. Suddenly, the students are calling on each other, allowing for the teacher to serve as the facilitator rather than the lecturer or leader. This is a such a simple strategy that really shapes the classroom setting. Student-driven learning requires learners to properly read, assess, evaluate, and communicate text. Imagine Easy Scholar supports students develop these skills through its cloud-based technology and Google Apps For Education integrations.

The Importance Of Literature - 1254 Words

Since the Mid 20th century literature has been a prominent aspect of life in American culture, beginning how to read it in childhood to benefiting by it throughout adulthood. Throughout the texts â€Å"Heels over Hemingway†, â€Å"Why Literature Matters† , and â€Å"Good-bad books† all argue the idea that literature has changed over the years, due to the fact that the world around us has changed as well which effects literature. For this reason Dowd, Orwell, and Gioia assert to their audience the importance of literature, and that it should have a place in society by utilizing rhetorical strategies such as analogies, ethos, pathos, logos, and diction. Both Dowd and Gioia argue why literature is important by citing the negative effects. One of†¦show more content†¦Dowd begins her op-editorial full of emotionally loaded diction to create a very critically- aggressive image; Dowd notes when looking for a book in the bookstore and quickly noticing the incre ased amount of chick-lit as it had â€Å"staged a coup of the literature shelves† and that a new re-feminized cover of a best seller â€Å"might as well be driving a stake through the heart of the classics.† The literary images she evokes of the recurring chick-lit novels read by women seen as literary hell due to the â€Å"non-challenging material†, implies to the audience the idea of women being judged by society due to book preference. Adding to this idea she utilizes words and phrase such as â€Å"possessed†, â€Å"devil† , â€Å"Will Shakespeare is being buffeted by rampaging 30- year- old heroines.† All these words elicit negative emotions of women, which emphasizes how women are judged as superficial and non-intellectual by society in the same way books are. In addition both Orwell and Gioia use pathos to convey the idea that reading any type of literature is beneficial to society. Orwell begins by slightly degrading the non-stop production of â€Å"good-bad books† in this generation to the sophisticated novels produced in the past. He implies that these â€Å"escapist† literature forms â€Å"pleasant patches in ones memory† by creating â€Å"quiet corners where the mind can browse at odd moments.† The image Orwell is able to evoke amongShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of Literature In Literature937 Words   |  4 PagesGiving children access to all varieties of literature is extremely important for their success. Educators should help students develop a love and passion for learning. Reading and understanding it plays a big role in this, not only is reading important in developing cognitive skills, but it is valuable for other reasons as well. Although there are countless values in exposing children to literat ure it gives students appreciation about their own values as well as those of others it helps studentsRead MoreThe Importance Of Literature In Literature1077 Words   |  5 Pages A common question some people ask is if kids should still learn about previous literary works in school. Why do people think this? An example of literature being questioned and not taught in schools as frequently is Shakespeare, there is a common belief among people that Shakespeare’s work does not reflect modern time and has lost its relevance. However, we continue to see literary devices that Shakespeare used in modern works today. Shakespeare employed literary tools, along with his understandingRead MoreThe Importance Of Literature769 Words   |  4 PagesLiterature has been a key part in the development of man and his societies. Literature is not only able to expand and communicate ideas; it also has an important secondary function of creating deeper thinking individuals. Literature is able to develop these thinkers by using a variety of literary devices. After being exposed to a wide variety of literature types, I have found that literature is used in many ways to furth er develop the thinking of not only an individual, but a society as well. ThisRead MoreThe Importance Of Literature1246 Words   |  5 Pagescentury literature has been a prominent aspect of life in American culture, beginning how to read it in our childhood to benefiting by it throughout adulthood. Throughout the texts of â€Å"Heels over Hemingway†, â€Å"Why Literature Matters† , and â€Å"Good-bad books† all similarly argue the idea that Literature has changed over the years, due to the fact that American has changed as well effecting literature. For this reason Dowd, Orwell, and Gioia assert to their audience the importance of literature, and thatRead MoreNotes On Importance Of Literature And Literature1109 Words   |  5 PagesPaper Oct.13 Importance of literature â€Å"The more we dominant the use of language and literature the more complete and useful we would be as a human race†-unknown. To talk about literature is to immerse ourselves in a world of fantasies, fiction, creativity and history. Literature is an artistic manifestation of men relating themselves to others and society. However, there are those who think that studying Literature is a duty without too much value, but I have to disagree. Literature is importantRead MoreThe Importance Of Literature1004 Words   |  5 Pagesperson’s capacity to apply these skills in the world which they live in. Nowadays, nearly everywhere requires you to have some sort of literature background for you to be able to work or get a job. I believe that in order to have a successful life, you need to have some sort of literature background. Literature is a very significant and key part of our society. Literature is important to me because of the following reasons: to expand my knowledge an d understanding of the things in the world around meRead MoreThe Importance Of Literature1545 Words   |  7 PagesWhy do schools put such an emphasis on English and literature? Without English, there would be no communication. Communication indisputably stands as one of the most essential cornerstones of society. Without communication, nobody could work together to even get close to creating aircrafts or a balanced judicial system. However, English also brings on an art form: literature. The written and spoken word rolls and crashes like a monstrous wave with the ability to move people, swelling and pullingRead MoreThe Importance Of Literature1964 Words   |  8 PagesThe notion of literature is a rather amusing one. It is something that humans have created using shapes that people designate as letters, arranged into words, put onto the fibers of paper, and bound together. With such a vast amount of literature in existence, and the modern world existing in its disastrous state to day, it is questionable whether literature is truly one of the beneficial aspects of the human race. Certainly, the benefits of literature and the knowledge acquired from it have beenRead MoreThe Importance Of Literature In Modern Literature892 Words   |  4 PagesTwo genres of poetic literature that began in the twentieth century, Modern and Postmodern, made a dramatic impact on the world. With Modern literature being a heavy influence of postmodern authors, they sought to create their own style with substantial differences. Effectively evolving the generation of it’s time to compose in a style that has carved its niche in history, has been practiced and celebrated for the past seventy years and centuries to come. Postmodern literature was formulated as aRead MoreThe Importance Of Ancient Literature700 Words   |  3 PagesEssentially when we think about studying literature, especially literature that is centuries old, thoughts such as â€Å"why is this important or how does this relate to me?† arise. Although someone is not going to relate to every piece of writing they read, literature still has plenty to offer. For example, take the course textbook; The Norton Anthology of World Literature. All the excerpts in the book are thousands of years old, so yes, it is possible that one could read the entire text and not relate

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Succeeding at a Job Interview Free Essays

BERNETTA J HUNTER Comp II 8 March 2013 Succeeding at a Job Interview If you plan on being employed at a company you like, you will need to succeed at the job interview. First you must do some research on the company. Next you must avoid, if at all possible, the personnel office. We will write a custom essay sample on Succeeding at a Job Interview or any similar topic only for you Order Now Then upon being interviewed, observe all interview rules and be prepared to prove your claims. A well prepared individual walking into an interview is more likely to land the job. When you perform research on a company you have an interview with, it signals interest to the employer. For example, one might be able to state the sales quota from the previous month. Then you are prepared to state how you can be an asset to the company. If you pursue your job hunt in a detailed, professional manner, the employer could possibly view you performing the job in the same manner. Setting up a career research interview could get your foot in the door and possibly the job. The personnel office is like a road block. Try to avoid it because its job is to screen out the interviewee. You want to go in and ask if you can be interviewed by the person who has the power to interview. Make no mistake: the personnel office still has the power to say no and tell you to expect a phone call to be interviewed at a later date. If you cannot get past the personnel office for a twenty minute face-to-face interview with the interviewer, keep your research ongoing. Now let’s say you got the job interview, you must observe the interview rules. First you must be converse where you get fifty percent of the interview as well as the interviewer. Next you must not let your answers be shorter than twenty seconds, or longer than two minutes. Then you must try to prove how you can be an asset to the company, and be able to prove it. The first impression with the interviewer should be professionally set in stone. Succeeding at an interview is what will land you the job. Taking the time to perform a detailed research shows your desirable interest. Asking to be interviewed by the person in charge can help you cross that barrier of being screened out by the personnel office. Then once you are actually being interviewed, make sure you know the interview rules and follow them. Being prepared at an interview and doing what most people fail to do will put you up higher on the hiring list. How to cite Succeeding at a Job Interview, Papers

As we approach the 21st century and as the idea of Essay Example For Students

As we approach the 21st century and as the idea of Essay a global village is fast becoming a reality, it is vital that we enlarge our worldview and reach an understanding of, and appreciation for, the cultures of the other peoples who share the planet with us. As cultural beings, we are raised with an certain way of giving order to the world around us. Very soon, these cultural filters, which allow us to make sense of reality and shape it, become fixed, invisible and unconscious; they are part of our worldview which as unique as we might think it is rests on the shared values of a particular linguistic community. This network of basic assumptions which affects everything in our life (love, family, friendship, child rearing, work, sense of community and of our place within it, view of nature, sense of self, etc.) is never put into question until it is brought to our awareness by the clash with another system, different from our own. Language, which is the bearer of culture par excellence, opens the door to the world of the other and gives us the means to apprehend other ways of viewing our common world and our common humanity. Why study Spanish? Beyond the argument just made for the truly cosmopolitan view, there are, for the US citizen, compelling internal and external reasons. First, one has to consider the rise of the Hispanic community within our midst. The US Census Bureau shows that the Latinos residing in the United States total about 27 million people and make up almost 10% of the population. Projections indicate that, by the year 2050, almost half of the US population could be Spanish speaking. This fact has strong implications for employment, not only in the Southern belt ( from Florida to California ) but also in all major cities of the nation. In the job market, the bilingual employee will increasingly have the edge over other candidates, especially in the service sector. But employment is only part of the picture. The Hispanic community with its pride in its old traditions native and European its own cultural diversity, its strong family values, its artistic genius and its rich literature, w ill make its own unique and distinct contributions to the living cultural tapestry of this nation today and tomorrow. Learning Spanish is essentially learning to relate to our next door neighbor and, more than ever, this makes sense. On the external front, the world is witnessing the formation of new international alliances amd mega trade-zones that are progressively taking shape. After the European Common Market and the Pacific Rim Nations Alliance, the recently signed North American Free Trade Agreement ( NAFTA ) between The US, Canada and Mxico, opens the door to incredible opportunities cultural and otherwise with our immediate neighbors to the South, and beyond to the whole South American continent. Once more, but on a broader scale, the possibilities for enrichment and cross-pollination at the level of things ( trade, industry, art ), people ( associations, business, travel, cultural activities), ideas ( new concepts in international relations, governance, organization ), and values (respect, tolerance, mutualism ) are unsurpassed. Learning a language can liberate the individual from the solipsistic confines of the monolingual view with its attendant parochialism. It can expand horizons, stimulate the mind, feed curiosity, provide opportunities for employment, travel and entertainment, enhance co-operation among neighbors and build tolerance among peoples. At this particular juncture in the history of this nation, Spanish is the smart choice for the smart citizen. BibliographyIt describes the importance of spanish in tha US

Unemployment in the US Essay Example For Students

Unemployment in the US Essay I chose these indicators because all are something that ordinary people deal with every day. All of us have control over our own spending and how far into debt we go. If we are not making the salary we want then we are free to look for a new job or an additional job. There is also the possibility of going back to school to raise your educational level in order to get a better job. This may, of course, put us deeper into debt. We are in debt as a country, and as individuals, but with the economy as strong as it is people have no qualms about going deeper into debt. There are increases in delinquency rates on consumer loans, record numbers of bankruptcy filings, and an increasing share of income devoted to paying interest on debt. These are signs that some households are becoming overextended. In this paper I discuss bankruptcy, consumer credit, inherited wealth and the difference in the way some generations handle debt. Personal income, installment debt and unemployment are coincident or lagging economic indicators or both. By many measures the US economy is very healthy, but increasing consumer debt and personal bankruptcies raise concerns about the future. We will write a custom essay on Unemployment in the US specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Credit card debt is higher than ever, and personal bankruptcies soared in 1995 and 1996 (Silverman 1997). Over 10% of Americans are expected to declare bankruptcy during the 1990s unless the trend changes, and there is no longer public scorn for those who file bankruptcy (Darlin 1997). Consumer credit remains readily available despite rising bankruptcies. This trend is attributed to a credit-friendly social policy which requires credit to be extended without discrimination. Furthermore, easy credit is needed to allow consumers to buy goods. The lending business also remains lucrative. To manage risks, financial institutions resort to diversification and risk shifting. The cost of bankruptcy is also incorporated in the cost of credit (Lykins and Plankenhorn 1996). The post baby-boom group known as Generation X is accumulating a great deal of debt, mostly through credit cards. The average credit card balance of households headed by someone under 25 nearly doubled from 1990 to 1995. There seems to be little desire among these people to live within their means (Shenk 1997). However, young people who can establish good credit will reap numerous benefits. A good credit record can provide young consumers with access to financing, thus enabling them to make purchases that they otherwise would not be able to make. In addition, good credit can enhance young people=s chances of getting good jobs. Borrowers who pay on time and in full may be able to convince potential employers that they are responsible and can manage their own finances (Shafer 1997). However, missed payments on bank credit card debt reached a new high of 2.13% of outstanding credit card debt in the 4th quarter of 1997. The American Bankers Association reported a decline in the percentage of accounts more than 30 days overdue during the quarter, although there was a rise in the percentage of loaned dollars delinquent. Consumer debt represents about 20.6% of disposable income (Kingson-Bloom 1998). The debt-service ratio can be used as an accurate predictor of future consumer spending growth or a source for explaining aggregate consumer spending. Furthermore, the ratio of debt service to income, if analyzed together with other economic indicators, will reveal future income growth. This ratio analysis is beneficial to financial service institutions as through this, they can determine debt payment capacities of clients (Murphy 1998). On the whole the Generation Xers have a gloom and doom attitude towards money, and maybe with good reason. .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517 , .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517 .postImageUrl , .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517 , .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517:hover , .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517:visited , .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517:active { border:0!important; } .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517:active , .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517 .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2c097e11c92f9d13a0c721d752d27517:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Underlying Themes in the Works of James A Michener Essay Social security will probably be out of money by the time they reach retirement age and most feel that they will never be out of debt, so they live life as such. Money conflicts in relationships are reflective of society=s growing insecurity about its financial future. America is turning into a fatalistic culture. This negativity is based on economic conditions that contradict the once prevalent belief of never-ending prosperity. The United States= stalled economy, mind boggling national debt, and the prospect of the collapse of the Social Security system have left many Americans terrified about their ability to make ends .

À Condition Que Takes the French Subjunctive

Condition Que Takes the French Subjunctive The phrase condition que (provided that)  is one of a long list of what are called French conjunctive phrases, which usually introduce a subordinating clause in a sentence. A conjunctive phrase is a group of two or more words that usually ends in  que  and is often a  subordinating conjunction  linking a subordinating clause to the main clause. Close to half of such conjunctive phrases used  as subordinating conjunctions, including condition  que,  require a subjunctive verb to convey their meaning: Je lachà ¨terai condition que tu le prennes.Ill buy it provided that you take it. The subjunctive  mood  is used to express actions or ideas that are subjective or otherwise uncertain, such as will/wanting, emotion, doubt, possibility, necessity and judgment. Subjunctive  is nearly always found in dependent, or subordinate, clauses introduced by  que  or  qui. Conjunctive Phrases The phrases below with * take a subjunctive verb. Those with ** take the formal, more literary ne explà ©tif, which is a ne  negation without the pas. condition que*  Ã‚  provided that afin que*  Ã‚  so that ainsi que  Ã‚  just as, so as alors que  Ã‚  while, whereas mesure que  Ã‚  as (progressively) moins que**  Ã‚  unless aprà ¨s que  Ã‚  after, when supposer que*  Ã‚  assuming that au cas oà ¹Ã‚  Ã‚  in case aussità ´t que  Ã‚  as soon as avant que**  Ã‚  before bien que*  Ã‚  although dans lhypothà ¨se oà ¹Ã‚  Ã‚  in the event that de crainte que**  Ã‚  for fear that de faà §on que*  Ã‚  in such a way that de manià ¨re que*  Ã‚  so that de mà ªme que  Ã‚  just as de peur que**  for fear that depuis que  Ã‚  since de sorte que*  Ã‚  so that, in such a way that dà ¨s que  Ã‚  as soon as en admettant que*  Ã‚  assuming that en attendant que*  Ã‚  while, until encore que*  Ã‚  even though jusqu ce que*  Ã‚  until parce que  Ã‚  because pendant que  Ã‚  while pour que*  Ã‚  so that pourvu que*  Ã‚  provided that quand bien mà ªme  Ã‚  even though/if quoi que*  Ã‚  whatever, no matter what sans que**  Ã‚  without sità ´t que  Ã‚  as soon as supposà © que*  Ã‚  supposing tandis que  Ã‚  while, whereas tant que  Ã‚  Ã‚  as long as vu que  Ã‚  seeing as/that Additional Resources The Subjunctivator!Quiz: Subjunctive or indicative?Expressions with