Middle Mosaic-Jeffrey Golub
Middle Mosaic-Jeffrey Golub
author of Making Learning Happen: Strategies for an Interactive Classroom
Engagement versus motivation: Two activities to get us going.
Passing Notes:
1. Take a ream of paper and cut it into quarters
2. Tell students to go some where in the classroom where no one else is (if possible, take your students to the cafeteria)
3. There is to be no talking in class
4. Have students write notes to each other all period long
5. Notes must have “to” and “from” on them in case there are students writing inappropriate notes.
6. Have 2-4 volunteers to deliver notes. Change “mailmen” every 15 minutes.
7. You write notes to students as well.
When to do this activity?
Before a test as review, informal check for understanding.
Why does it work to get students engaged?
1. Students have something to say
2. Students have an audience
3. Students get feedback.
When you build those three conditions into assignments, students will write. The teacher does not count as audience. When designing assignments, the audience needs to be kept in mind.
Mr. Rogers
1. Read to students from Mr. Rogers book explaining things to kids.
2. Have students write to younger students to explain a complex idea or happening. (presented an example where an older student explained divorce and blended families)
Research papers in an FAQ format—build in the audience.
*Ran Out of Time* More to follow on this as I will be emailing him to continue the conversation
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Last Updated April 11, 2011
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