Cougar Communication
Student and Teacher Conversations: Working
Together vs Cheating
In one class conversation, a student
lamented that collaboration is made difficult because teachers tell us to work
by ourselves; otherwise it’s cheating. He continued, but in some classes it’s
OK to work together and it’s not cheating.
Obviously, when I receive a
cheating/copying referral, I often hear the same thing, “I was just checking an
answer.” “I wasn’t sure how to do number 4, so I was looking at hers.” Sometimes
these are probably excuses and at other times they’re probably legitimate.
Earlier in the year I had a
conversation with a couple of teachers regarding students during formative
assessments looking at what other students are doing or asking a classmate and
then correcting their choices. To us it seemed like a beneficial practice
(since it was ungraded) because when the teacher provides the correct answer,
it simply reinforces what they’ve already learned just moments before.
What are your thoughts?
Just something to think about….
Technology for Your Classrooms: Noise
Meters
Richard Byrne, who writes Free
Technology for Teachers, shares
two class noise meters that can be used to monitor classroom noise when
students are working in your class. By using and projecting them, it might be a
good way for students to monitor their own conversation levels.
The two noise meters: http://www.ictgames.com/calmCounter.html
and https://bouncyballs.org/
Administrative Notes
Tomorrow is a flex day.
Next Tuesday will be the in-school
performance of the talent show. The schedule will be 1-2-3-4 (no homeroom and
the talent show will be during 1st period).
Positive Referral
Link: http://goo.gl/s0KXRB
Work Order Request
Form: http://goo.gl/H7hFwK
Comment Box: http://goo.gl/forms/KAHNoGf5D2
What I’m Reading
Quote of the Week:
Dylan
Wiliam: “If students know where we’re headed,
we’re more likely to reach the destination. As Yogi Berra says, ‘If you don't
know where you are going,
you'll end up someplace else.’ But it’s a mistake to begin every lesson with a learning intention. Sometimes you don’t know, we engage students in rich lessons, but students learn different things…Sometimes it spoils the journey…Sometimes it’s just uninspired. Students aren’t motivated by content standards….Students are motivated by ideas, discussions, arguments. Skilled teachers take dry content standards and make them into lively discussions, debates and more.”
you'll end up someplace else.’ But it’s a mistake to begin every lesson with a learning intention. Sometimes you don’t know, we engage students in rich lessons, but students learn different things…Sometimes it spoils the journey…Sometimes it’s just uninspired. Students aren’t motivated by content standards….Students are motivated by ideas, discussions, arguments. Skilled teachers take dry content standards and make them into lively discussions, debates and more.”
