Leisa+Module+3+Response

Module 3 Response: wallleis@msu.edu

For each motivational practice, such as providing relevance, ask the following questions (a) Do I do this practice already? Relevance Poignant Topics Choices Success Collaboration Emphasizing Importance
 * Where am I?**
 * I greet each student as they come into the classroom each day so that I can personally say, "Good Morning ." I think that is important that I acknowledge each student as they come in so that they know I am happy to see them each day.
 * I also like to learn about their outside of school activities so that I can get to know the as a whole person instead of just a student.
 * This also allows me to get reading materials based on their outside interests.
 * During our nonfiction unit, students select the topic that they would like to teach the class about.
 * Students act out a lot of historical events during Social Studies throughout the year.
 * My classroom is all about student choice.
 * They create the rules they want to live by during the year.
 * They get to chose the books that they want to read (they do have to fit into a genre requirement).
 * Voting for various activities
 * Immediate feedback is something that I do often
 * Readers Workshop conferences take place with every student at least once a week
 * I encourage my students to set goals so they can grow as a reader and then we celebrate when they achieve those goals.
 * Reading in small groups and partnerships
 * Book talks
 * Team projects such as teaching the class about a specific nonfiction topic
 * Literature Evaluations based on books that they have just finish reading
 * Peer feedback
 * Student-led discussion of read aloud
 * I read the books that are in my classroom along with my students so that they can see how reading is important. I also read in front of them and tell them about the reading that I do at home each night. I want to show them, not just tell them, how important reading is.

(b) How often do I do this? Relevance Poignant Topics Choices Success Collaboration Emphasizing Importance
 * I greet each student as they come into the classroom each day so that I can personally say, "Good Morning ." I think that is important that I acknowledge each student as they come in so that they know I am happy to see them each day. //Everyday//
 * I also like to learn about their outside of school activities so that I can get to know the as a whole person instead of just a student. //Everyday//
 * This also allows me to get reading materials based on their outside interests. //Weekly when I go to the library or bookstore//
 * During our nonfiction unit, students select the topic that they would like to teach the class about.//Two times per year//
 * Students act out a lot of historical events during Social Studies throughout the year. //At least once a month//
 * My classroom is all about student choice.
 * They create the rules they want to live by during the year. //Beginning of the year, towards the end of the first week of school//
 * They get to chose the books that they want to read (they do have to fit into a genre requirement). //They have to read 30 books, the amount from each genre varies//
 * Voting for various activities //Celebrations, Rewards//
 * Immediate feedback is something that I do often //Daily//
 * Readers Workshop conferences take place with every student at least once a week //Everyday//
 * I encourage my students to set goals so they can grow as a reader and then we celebrate when they achieve those goals. //At least once per marking period//
 * Reading in small groups and partnerships //Weekly//
 * Book talks //Weekly//
 * Team projects such as teaching the class about a specific nonfiction topic //At least two times per year//
 * Literature Evaluations based on books that they have just finish reading //Weekly//
 * Peer feedback //Weekly//
 * Student-led discussion of read aloud //Daily//
 * I read the books that are in my classroom along with my students so that they can see how reading is important. I also read in front of them and tell them about the reading that I do at home each night. I want to show them, not just tell them, how important reading is. //Daily//

(c) When do I do this? I do this daily but for specific situations, it depends on my students. I am constantly motivating them so that they can achieve more.

(d) How well does it work? I think that the motivation in my classroom works really well. What I found last year when I really started to read their books on a consistent basis, really showed them how important reading is and how enjoyable it can be. We also enjoyed recommending books to each other.

(e) How can I do this more? Continuing to learn as much about my students as I can. I can also make sure to be in the moment when I am with my students so that they can get the best out of me each day. Also, collaborating with my peers about ways to motivate students.

(f) How can I do this better? Again, I think that is goes back to what I said above, collaborating with my peers.

(g) How can I connect this practice more deeply to my teaching? By getting new ideas from other teachers and really reflecting on my own ideas so they can make sure they are in line with the goals that I have for my students.