Standard 8: Instructional Strategies
The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.
8(g) Engages learners in using a range of learning skills and technology tools to access, interpret, evaluate, and apply information
8(j) Understands the cognitive processes associated with various kinds of learning (e.g., critical and creative thinking, problem framing and problem solving, invention, memorization and recall) and how these processes can be stimulated.
8(p) Is committed to deepening awareness and understanding the strengths and needs of diverse learners when planning and adjusting instruction.
Click Below to see my Ferns of the Forest Intro
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4th Grade: "Ferns of the Forest" Lesson Intro.
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Pam put me in charge of creating an exhibit with the fourth grade classes. We talked over ideas of using ferns from the forest behind the school as stencils. My goal for this lesson was to help students build their sense of place at school by answering the questions "What do you notice when you look, smell, touch, or hear plants and creatures from this space (our forest)?" and "How can we use the plants around us to make a focal point?". Understanding where you are at any point in time can bring some sense of comfort and steadiness. This can be helpful when you are trying to access your greatest potential for expressing yourself, taking risks, and being open to learning and sharing.
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To reach this goal I worked hard to introduce ferns in multiple ways. I began with a conversation with a short mindfulness game that got students to focus on finding one color in the room. Next, a photo of fiddle heads being cooked was shared, and I asked them what they knew about the food in the photo. We spent time looking and talking about edible ferns and poisonous ones, the fern life cycle, and where ferns can be found in the forest outside. We also made a trip into the forest to search for and collect ferns, and used ferns to make spray paint art.
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Moving forward I will practice using more direct language such as: “who will read?”, "let's begin with...", and "everyone to their seat and then we will start". I am inspired to use more purposeful and direct language with students because it can help prepare students to get into the zone for learning.
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