Methods
When you've run out of creative ideas for class, it's easy enough to fall back on the standard lecture format. Of course, sometimes this is called for.
However, there are a wide variety of methods that you can use to spice up your class. Some are simple transitions to intersperse into your lectures, others are innovative graphic organizers to help the students think about the information, and a few are long term assignments and projects.
If it's been a while since you sat through your Methods class, it probably wouldn't hurt to brush up on some old classics and some of the new ideas in education. Browse through the list below, or look in the menu above for some of our featured methods articles.
A character wheel is a specific type of graphic organizer, generally used in literature classes. The student fills in a “wheel” shaped organizer – putting the character's name in the center and that some of that character's traits around the outside of the wheel.
Check out the full article on character wheels for sample handouts.
A great way to differentiate instruction is to break students up into groups. Each group can then have a different task to work on - appropriate for their readiness, interest, or aptitude.
The problem for you is giving directions to these different groups easily, quickly, and clearly. The solution: task cards.
We're bombarded daily with advertisements - for products, movies, services, politicians. Why not have students take that experience and turn it into authentic performance assessment? Creating an ad campaign is a great opportunity for students to be creative and productive. Read the full article for examples and guidelines in using this type of project.
When it comes to controversial issues, everyone has an opinion - they can make for a very lively discussion. In a continuum activity, students line up according to their position on a controversial topic. After the discussion, students have a chance to reconsider their position. For an example, read the full article on the continuum method.
Helping our students compare and contrast things is a pretty standard higher-order-thinking goal. To this end, charts and organizers are eminently helpful.
Venn diagrams are great for helping students conceptualize comparisons and think about them visually. For struggling students, a simple textual chart may be a better option.
Either way, a diagram that scaffolds the comparison process is a great tool to help students write a thoughtful essay. Check out some sample handouts in the full article on comparison diagrams.
Writing is an essential part of education. It's easy to take writing for granted and forget how complex of a process it really is. Using some form of organizer is a great way to help students learn the mechanics of the writing process.
This article contains two sample organizers for you to use. One arranges the information in a spatial way, while the other sticks to a traditional text outline. Read the full article on Essay Organizers for more details.
A daunting part of differentiation is choosing what each student should do - so don't. Let them choose! With a RAFT activity, you can make the assignment as narrow or broad as you like. Students are able to personalize many aspects of the assignment - such as the topic, the format, or the point of view.
Check out the full article on RAFT Assignments.Think-Pair-Share is a quick and simple activity that is perfect for introducing and transitioning lessons.
Students first think about a prompt on their own. Then, they share their responses with a partner and develop their thought a bit further. Finally, the pairs share with the whole class in a brief discussion.
Read the full article on Think-Pair-Share.
KWL - or Know Want Learn - is a great way to activate a student's prior knowledge and prepare him or her to learn something new.
In this activity, the student or the entire class begins by identifying what is already known on a topic. Next, questions about that topic are identified - "What do we want to learn?" Finally, at the end of the lesson or activity, the last question is answered - "What have we learned?"
This is a good introductory activity and it couples well with a graphic organizer to track the three sections. Check out the full article on KWL for more details.
Before your class can discuss a topic in depth, most students need a chance to formulate their ideas. This extra time prevents one or two quick-thinking students from stealing the stage.
To that end, you can engage your students in an A/B writing activity to prepare them for a discussion. Put a set of prompts on the board, ask the students to agree with one prompt or the other, and then give them two to three minutes to write down their reasons.
When it's time to discuss, every student has at least a few comments ready to go. Check out the full article on A/B writing for some examples.
One problem with class discussions is that the more eager students can easily steal the show. The more cautious and shy students will sit back, not participate, and let someone else do the talking.
"Silent Discussions" are an interesting twist on an old trick. The class discussion is conducted in silence and in writing. No one can steal the show, everyone has a chance to participate, and no one need be afraid of other saying "something stupid" in front of the rest of the class.
Check out the full article on Silent Discussions for a more complete explanation.
A jigsaw is a cooperative grouping technique that has each student learn something and then teach that to his or her fellow students.
It is a great way to divide up large sections of readings. It can also be used to help struggling readers digest and understand small portions of the text.
Remember that we remember a small portion of what we read, but we remember a whole lot of what we teach. Read the full article on jigsaws to see how this can help your students learn better.
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