Characteristics Of An Innovative Classroom –

Characteristics Of An Innovative Classroom

by Terry Heick

Before the ideas, let me preface this by acknowledging that many of these–if not most–aren’t feasible in most classrooms and schools.

I taught for years and tried to shoehorn ideas like this into my teaching, and it was rewarding but exhausting and ultimately resulted in my becoming a pariah in my own school/district. I didn’t intend on ‘not being a team player,’ but that’s exactly how ideas like these look to–well, to some people. I’ll leave it at that. (See also Teaching Disruptively.)

Since I’m not going to explain how to accomplish these kinds of shifts (that’d be a book), though, I do refer to some of the posts I’ve created over the years that elaborate on some of these ideas. The purpose of this post, then, is to vaguely sketch the possible characteristics of an innovative classroom.

You may disagree strongly with every single one,

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What To Do With A Student –

whattodowithstudent-c

by Terry Heick

Say you’ve got some students. 

Two or 122. Doesn’t matter–they’re there. What should you do with them? Oh, lots. There is a lot to consider.

First, you have to see them. Really see them for who they are, where they are. Not as test results, pending adults, nor as vessels for filling, or humanoids to push towards some goal they may not understand in either theory or application. You can’t see them in terms of gender, grade level, intelligence, compliance–you have to see that student. Who ‘are’ they? Where are they ‘from’? What do they think about themselves? About other people? About their own potential and their future? What motivates them? What do they–more than anything else–want?

Then you accept them. Accept everything without judgment because it has nothing to do with you, and probably less to do with them that you’d think. In your

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What’s The Writing Process? –

What is the writing process? The writing process is a sequence of strategies to plan, write, and ultimately publish a polished, accurate, well-organized piece of writing.

It is a critical practice–and concept–for students to master. As a sequence of ‘priorities’ (preparing to write, writing, then refining and sharing the work), the writing process is complex, with a variety of strategies within each step to accomplish its respective goal.

What Are The Five Steps Of The Writing Process?

by TeachThought Staff

1. Pre-writing

In the pre-writing stage of the writing process, students will do things like clarify their audience and purpose, research their topic, create concept maps and outlines, and more. As noted above, the big idea here is to ‘prepare to write.’

2. Drafting

The drafting stage is where students take their pre-writing and, using it as a kind of map or scaffolding, actually produce a finished piece of writing.

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50 Of The Most Inspirational Quotes About Life –

50 Inspirational And Motivational Quotes

by TeachThought Staff

What are some of the most inspirational quotes about life? Well, that depends on what kind of inspiration you’re looking for.

Life quotes range across the human condition, from suffering to possibility, hope to sacrifice, love to loss. The best quotes about life are often those that contain truth, motivation, and insight to some concept that, at that moment in your life, seems poignant, useful, and just the bit of wisdom you needed.

50 Quotes To Inspire

“You mustn’t wish for another life. You mustn’t want to be somebody else. What you must do is this: Rejoice evermore.” –Wendell Berry

“Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don’t be sorry.” –Jack Kerouac

“Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.” –Carl Sagan

“A

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5 Out-Of-The-Box Assessment Strategies Every Teacher Should Know

Assessment Strategies

by Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed., radteach.com & Terry Heick

Most teachers and current textbooks offer varied approaches to the material to be learned so the teaching can be brain-compatible with the varied student learning styles.

It is only logical that respect for these individual learning styles be incorporated into assessment forms and out-of-the-box assessment strategies teachers should know and use when appropriate. For example, teachers responsive to interpersonal learning styles find cooperative group work a way to pull in those learners as well to give students with artistic, computer, dramatic, or organizational skills the opportunities to enter the learning experience through their strengths and interests

It follows that assessments should also provide opportunities for each student’s unique learning style to access his or her highest performance success level. A variety of assessment forms and some student choice can bring students to the assessment with less anxiety and increase the positive

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