Introduction
Many teachers work hard to follow the standards and ensure that their students are receiving quality learning in a productive environment. Reflection is often recommended for teacher to review their practices and make adjustment to their teacher for the benefit of the students. Atkinson (2012) notes that “teacher knowledge scholars find it important that their work make the various sources and components of teacher knowledge visible, and advocate a variety of sources for reflection that inform teachers’ practice” (p. 177). Reflection is based on the work of John Dewey. According to Dewey (1910) “Thinking involves (as we have seen) the suggestion of a conclusion for acceptance, and also search or inquiry to test the value of the …show more content…
Children get to have play experiences at recess, during dramatic play and other center activities, which is about 50 minutes per day. However, I have not been including play throughout the day. A professional development that talks about the importance of building play into the classroom is Push Play- Beginning Gamification in YOUR classroom presented by Michael Matera. According to Matera, gamification is about knowledge and challenge. There is a difference between game based learning, which is just learning with games included, and gamification, which is about applied game mechanics that make the learning fun. Matera suggest that teachers create their content like a gamer, regardless of the student’s grade or learning level. Gamification encourages teachers to find elements about the games that students enjoy and build them into the lessons. Matera points out that the concept of school is artificial, play is original and natural. According to Kaiser and Rasminsky (2012) “Children who participate in cooperative activities behave less aggressively and are more likely to cooperate during unstructured times, even when they’re frustrated” (p. 126). When you make learning fun, children are encouraged to learn, explore, and be …show more content…
My current practice is to have pictures of the family members and the student in the classroom and in the student’s writing journal. Also, the pictures in the writing journal are labeled with the names of family member to help students with ideas during writing. Our exploration of cultures and languages have been limited to discussion around special events or holidays. The professional development I attended titled, Building Community in Your Classroom discussed ways to incorporate individuality, purpose, and fun into the lessons. The focus was that students what to feel like they belong, they are useful, they have a say in the classroom routines and they can be successful. The training was facilitated by Kristina Perez, director of Community Programs for Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District. During the discussion, Mrs. Perez strategies for make the classroom environment and teacher practice inviting for students. One suggestion was a motivation wall with social messages, quotes of the day and information about positive actions of children. The idea of the motivation wall would be a great way to build culture and home languages into the classroom. The information on the motivation wall would be update frequently using input from the students and highlight other cultures and include quotes from other cultures and
Many teachers work hard to follow the standards and ensure that their students are receiving quality learning in a productive environment. Reflection is often recommended for teacher to review their practices and make adjustment to their teacher for the benefit of the students. Atkinson (2012) notes that “teacher knowledge scholars find it important that their work make the various sources and components of teacher knowledge visible, and advocate a variety of sources for reflection that inform teachers’ practice” (p. 177). Reflection is based on the work of John Dewey. According to Dewey (1910) “Thinking involves (as we have seen) the suggestion of a conclusion for acceptance, and also search or inquiry to test the value of the …show more content…
Children get to have play experiences at recess, during dramatic play and other center activities, which is about 50 minutes per day. However, I have not been including play throughout the day. A professional development that talks about the importance of building play into the classroom is Push Play- Beginning Gamification in YOUR classroom presented by Michael Matera. According to Matera, gamification is about knowledge and challenge. There is a difference between game based learning, which is just learning with games included, and gamification, which is about applied game mechanics that make the learning fun. Matera suggest that teachers create their content like a gamer, regardless of the student’s grade or learning level. Gamification encourages teachers to find elements about the games that students enjoy and build them into the lessons. Matera points out that the concept of school is artificial, play is original and natural. According to Kaiser and Rasminsky (2012) “Children who participate in cooperative activities behave less aggressively and are more likely to cooperate during unstructured times, even when they’re frustrated” (p. 126). When you make learning fun, children are encouraged to learn, explore, and be …show more content…
My current practice is to have pictures of the family members and the student in the classroom and in the student’s writing journal. Also, the pictures in the writing journal are labeled with the names of family member to help students with ideas during writing. Our exploration of cultures and languages have been limited to discussion around special events or holidays. The professional development I attended titled, Building Community in Your Classroom discussed ways to incorporate individuality, purpose, and fun into the lessons. The focus was that students what to feel like they belong, they are useful, they have a say in the classroom routines and they can be successful. The training was facilitated by Kristina Perez, director of Community Programs for Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District. During the discussion, Mrs. Perez strategies for make the classroom environment and teacher practice inviting for students. One suggestion was a motivation wall with social messages, quotes of the day and information about positive actions of children. The idea of the motivation wall would be a great way to build culture and home languages into the classroom. The information on the motivation wall would be update frequently using input from the students and highlight other cultures and include quotes from other cultures and