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Homework and Practice
When I reflect on the instructional strategies that I use in my classroom many come to mind, but some have almost become second nature. Before I knew about a book identifying specific instructional strategies that were backed by research, I was using them. I taught a lesson and gave homework. I always considered homework to be a practice for the concepts I taught, not just busy work. I planned assignments so that they were work with a purpose. If students didn't do well on a specific assignment, I knew that I had to reteach that lesson or portions of it and "more practice" was needed. This is a strategy that I have used and relied upon for data collection as well. If students really liked an assignment, it covered the skills I wanted them to learn and I got almost a ninety percent return I considered it to be a "keeper". I would use that lesson and assignment again next year.
What I have found to be most effective and helpful to my students is when I am able to give them feedback or comments written on the their homework. They are so eager to read the comments and it makes for less of a battle when I ask them to try something again. When I give my students feedback it is often in the form of a question, with the hope of prevoking them to think about "the next step" of a process. This works well because my students are really interested in what I have to say about their work and it opens up a conversation about what is clear to them and what is still vague.
In previous years I have wondered how I could enhance some of the strategies that are my favorite to use across the curriculum. When I began to use more technology in my classroom, some of my favorites strategies became even more to exciting for my students and myself. Using similarities and differences as a strategy in the form of a PowerPoint presentation, or having students create their own table to record and compare data or demonstrate a concept using a software for visual mapping engages my students in a differrnt way. They are more creative and pay more attention to the presentation of detail. It also brings more parental invilvement which is something else that helps the students thrive. Does this always work well? Not always. Working in a building that has limitted technology equipment is sometimes a challenge, but with all of the budget cuts I am thankful for what we do have. One projector for an entire building can be a challenge, but not one that deters me from looking for more ways to incorporate and effectively use technology when I can.
I email discussion questions and advanced Organizers to my students. I post links to videos in my virtual classroom. I chat with my students or tutor them through email... I have to be creative to be effective.
