Observe an Educator

Sarah Miller

scmiller@pasco.k12.fl.us

 

Celebrating Success, Recording and Representing Knowledge, and Engagement Strategies to Help Students Actively Learn

 

Visit Room 210 during 3rd or 6th Period (10/14 and 10/15) to see these strategies in action.  Anytime during the period would be fine. 

 

A Typical Day in Ms. Miller's Classroom:

 

Bell Work:

During the first five minutes of each class period, students engage in task/answer bellwork displayed on the board.  We then take about 2-5 minutes discussing the bell work, and ensure everyone is on the same page with their understanding.

 

Lesson:

If a lecture, I will put up the powerpoint, and lecture while students record notes.  Typically this lasts about 15 minutes.

If we are engaging in an Inquiry based activity, the students go in with little to no knowledge on the subject and learn as they go through the activity.  QR code scavenger hunts, labs, internet activities, making a book/comic strip, etc. all help to increase their understanding.   I circulate around the room, answer questions about the content or prompt them with another question to help them get to the correct answer.

 

Activity:

If there was a lecture, the students will typically do some kind of activity related to the lecture like building polymers out of legos, painting proteins, making vines of the cell cycle, etc.  I circulate during this activity as well and praise the students that get it, and assist the students that don’t.

 

Closing:

About 3 minutes before class is up, students will put away materials and begin to clean up their area.  I remind them of anything that might be due on Canvas, or of something they should bring the next day, etc.

 

Praise:

To give students praise, I use a couple of methods: high fives, candy, verbal praise, telling them they’re awesome, etc.  I get pretty excited when they understand a concept!