Pass It On - Tips from Teachers
Sally Hirst from Fredericton, NB says...
Before beginning a new concept, I like to have a clear picture of what my students already know about the idea and what misconceptions I may have to address. Part of the information I get comes from asking students what the idea is NOT. For example,
| These are quadrilaterals... | These are NOT quadrilaterals... |
Asking what something is NOT often gives me as much information as asking what it is.
Students can show examples of their thinking on paper or with manipulatives. I like to save these examples for later. At the end of the unit, I ask my students to repeat the task. It gives me ‘instant’ information and shows how much growth has taken place. We are often pleasantly surprised, and take time to celebrate the growth! I can use the information I gain from this comparison at report card time and it makes a great piece to show parents on interview night.
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