“You don’t understand anything until you learn it more than one way.” – Marvin Minsky
During the past year, we have been forced to change. Our life has been altered many ways – from how we work, play and spend time with others. With our time typically spent socializing or traveling taken away, many of us have turned to learning a new skill or hobby.
Learning a new skill this past year was a good time for me to reflect on myself as a learner. Having received some older furniture, I wanted to learn how to chalk paint the old wood. While learning to paint, I was reminded of what my students need in order to be successful learners.
A Purpose
The motivation to learn comes from having a purpose or need for that skill. The antique dresser taking up space in the basement gave me a reason and a desire to learn this skill. I wanted to do it for me! In the classroom, how do we give our students a purpose for their learning? Can we create an atmosphere where students develop their own purpose for learning?
We must continually look for ways to develop a sense of purpose in young students. For example, why is written communication essential? The youngest of our students can understand why they want to communicate with those around them. Helping students to find a personal link in the task and then creating their own goals is essential. Brainstorm with students the purpose or need for them to learn new concepts.
For example:
I am learning to write a sentence so others can understand my ideas.
I am learning to defend my opinion so I can share my thoughts with others.
I want to tell this story so my friends can enjoy it.
I am writing these steps/directions clearly so someone can also play this game.
Small Steps
When taking on a project, I like to get right to it! However, just opening the paint can and slapping on the paint was not going to help me achieve the results I wanted. Before painting, I needed to sand, clean the wood, repair the cracks and prepare the work surface. Although eager to begin on the “real” project, completing these steps was essential.
Understanding the smaller skills needed to successfully complete the bigger goal is necessary for students. Writing a complete sentence correctly is essential before tackling a paragraph. Taking effective and correct notes must be done in order to write a research report. Students are much more engaged in learning these skills when they are tied to a larger learning goal.
Direct Instruction
Direct instruction takes many forms. Embarking on the painting project, I first read directions online and took notes. To make sure I understood what I was reading, I followed up by watching a video to see the process in action. As I completed each step, I went back and double checked my notes, making sure I was not leaving anything out.
This reminded me of the learning needs of my students. Written directions are a valuable learning tool for many students. Others need to see the process in action, whether through videos or teacher examples. Anchor charts and notes are a valuable resource for all students, helping them double-check their own work.
Feedback
Feedback is essential for improvement. Whether it be calling a friend to view our handiwork or comparing our project with a post on Pinterest, feedback is important. In the same way, our students need frequent feedback from a variety of sources. Sharing writing and providing feedback from both peers and the teacher improves students’ writing skills. Sharing helps provide a purpose for writing, and hearing each other’s writing improves the skills of all students.
It was time well spent to first reflect upon my own learning needs and then plan how to transfer this learning to my students.