Assignment #4: Complete the 4 part assignment format as you read, reflect, and respond to Chapter 4 – Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition.
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Although your course packet asks you to post to blog for parts A, B, C, and D…we are asking that you only post part C and D. We’re trying to make the blog easier to read and more user- friendly. Thanks!
A. Self Assessment of Current Beliefs and Practices: This component asks you to reflect on how and why you currently use the instructional strategies of Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition in your classroom. The intent of this is to activate your prior knowledge of your strategy use so that you can make comparisons as you read the chapter. Below are the questions to help you complete your self-assessment.
• This chapter discusses the potential influence of reinforcing students' effort and providing recognition for their accomplishments. Think back to your own personal experiences and try to identify situations in which your learning was positively influenced when someone reinforced your effort or recognized your accomplishments in some significant way. You might also remember situations that would have been improved if someone had reinforced your effort or had given you recognition.
• Now try to remember examples of situations that you positively influenced because you did reinforce students' effort or provide recognition.
• How do you currently reinforce students’ effort in your classroom and what is your purpose?
• What makes reinforcing effective or ineffective?
• Although verbal recognition seems to be most effective, providing concrete tokens (e.g., stickers, candy, toys) can also be effective. What advice would you give to a new teacher about using tokens as rewards?
B. Read & Reflect “Research & Theory”:This portion of the assignment asks you to read chapter 4 and reflect briefly on your thinking after reading the “Research and Theory” section for both reinforcing effort and providing recognition. You may want to consider reflecting on the bulleted comment below.
C. Practice: Choose one of the specific “classroom practice” strategies or techniques shared in this chapter to teach to your students (If you are not currently teaching, you may share how you would use this strategy in your classroom). You may want to consider reflecting on the bulleted comment below. Please post a brief reflection of how this went to the posting labeled Week Four: Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition. Click on the “comment” link below.
• This chapter recommends the use of rubrics to help students see the relationship between their effort and their achievement. Try to identify a specific long-term, challenging assignment that might be enhanced by using these rubrics.
D. Final Strategy Reflection: Use the following sequence of questions/promps to reflect on what you’ve learned about both the strategies presented in the chapter and what you’ve learned about yourself as both a teacher and a learner. Please post your brief reflection to the posting labeled Week Four: Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition by clicking on the “comment” link below.
How has the information you read in this chapter on summarizing affected your thinking about teaching and learning? What have you learned about yourself as a teacher and learner? You may use some of the following questions to assist you in writing a brief strategy reflection:
• How might I change how I reinforce students’ effort in my classroom?
• What is something you now understand better about reinforcing effort or providing recognition?
• How might you change how you provide recognition in your classroom?
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2 comments:
Week 4: Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition
By Ryan King
C. While trying to find a long term assignment that used rubrics for one of my math classes, I was considering the drop in effort that I was experiencing with my first period class. They are students that have traditionally struggled with math, and had developed the belief that they could not be successful. I chose to teach my first period Pre-Algebra class about effort, and the effect it has on success. Fortune magazine recently published an article relating success to different factors. The results of their research were that effort and targeted practice had a far greater impact on success than natural talent. During class, the students were split into groups of four, and each person in the group was assigned to sections to read. As they read their section, they were asked to highlight three important ideas or quotes from each section. After each individual had completed their section, they were to report back to their groups and explain what they read. It was exciting during the reading, as students learned about famous people like Tiger Woods and how his hard work played such a large role in his success. Several students were surprised that directed practice could overcome a lack of natural ability, and that improvement would continue to be made over the course of ten to fifteen years if the practice was targeted.
D. One of the major battles that high school math teachers face is students who have been convinced that they can not be successful in math. I always had a hard time understanding where this misconception comes from, and why it is so strong in so many students. The feedback that I received from students provided some clarity, as to why they feel like math is too difficult for them. As they struggle during the early learning process of new content, often their belief is confirmed as they are asked questions which they answer incorrectly. My job as a teacher is to help them understand that it is ok to make errors as you learn, and that through practice you will be able to overcome those errors. In the future, I need to provide more recognition of students who consistently complete their assignments. A grade will only motivate some students in my class, but consistent praise will likely motivate many students who are not interested in grades. This could potentially be a way to increase the amount of effort that those students put forth. If the students continue to complete their directed practice, they will become more successful and maybe I can convince them that they can be successful in math.
The article you mentioned in Fortune Magazine sounds very interesting. I think it’s very encouraging for kids who don’t feel successful in a certain academic area to understand that effort and targeted practice can make such a difference in their work. What a great lesson…make sure you share with colleagues!!!
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