Common Core
The state of California has adopted new national grade level standards. This means all 4th graders across the country will be learning the same standards. There is also a seismic shift away from lower level thinking where facts were learned in isolation. Our educational system is moving toward a more real world approach in which students learn the basics and then use higher order thinking skills to solve problems and explain their processes, thinking, and solutions in written form. I am thrilled to be moving progressively in this direction.
Click the button to learn more about Common Core.
Click the button to learn more about Common Core.
Differentiated Instruction
- Every student is a unique individual with distinct strengths and abilities.
- Students come into 4th grade at varied ability levels and with different interests.
- Reading instruction is individualized. Students choose their own book, with guidance from the teacher, at the appropriate reading level.
- I strive to build choice into many of my assignments.
- Engagement, ownership, and buy-in are all increased when students are given a choice of books and assignments across the curriculum.
Cooperative Learning
- Students will work in cooperative groups every day across all subjects.
- This promotes interpersonal communication skills, encourages children to teach and learn from their peers, and allows students to play to their strengths.
- Group work develops leadership skills.
Constructivism
The learner is an individual with unique abilities, strengths, and cultural background and these talents are utilized in the learning process. Learning is the responsibility of the learner. The learner must actively construct, or build, their own knowledge. A child is actively involved in the learning process and does not passively absorb information. The teacher facilitates learning rather than dispenses knowledge. There is a dynamic interaction between the material, the student, and the teacher.
Bloom's Taxonomy
- Bloom categorized learning into a hierarchical structure. The goal is to build a solid foundation with lower order thinking skills and move up the pyramid. This is a goal of the new common core standards.
- I build higher order thinking skills into my lesson design every day.
- Many students can fill in the blanks or circle a multiple choice answer. I strive to help them "connect the dots" and delve deeper into their learning by using higher order thinking.
- This manifests itself as multi-paragraph written responses, word problems in math, and project-based learning.
Howard Gardener's Multiple Intelligences
Howard Gardner formulated a list of seven intelligences as a professor at Harvard. Everyone possess all of these intelligences in varying degrees. I use these as a guide when planning differentiated instruction. This often comes in the form of student choice.
Linguistic intelligence involves spoken and written language, the ability to learn languages, and the capacity to use language to accomplish certain goals. This intelligence includes the ability to effectively use language to express oneself and language as a means to remember information. This is typically the most highly valued and utilized intelligence in the school setting.
Logical-mathematical intelligence consists of the capacity to analyze problems logically, carry out mathematical operations, and investigate issues scientifically. It is the ability to detect patterns, reason deductively and think logically. This intelligence is most often associated with scientific and mathematical thinking.
Musical intelligence involves skill in the performance, composition, and appreciation of musical patterns. It encompasses the capacity to recognize and compose musical pitches, tones, and rhythms.
Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence involves using one's whole body or parts of the body to solve problems. It is the ability to use mental abilities to coordinate bodily movements. People that excel at sports have a high bodily-kinesthetic intelligence.
Spatial intelligence involves the potential to recognize and use the patterns of space, to visualize abstractly, and manipulate images mentally in order to solve problems.
Interpersonal intelligence is the capacity to understand the intentions, motivations and desires of other people. It allows people to work effectively with others.
Intrapersonal intelligence is the ability to understand oneself, to appreciate one's feelings, fears and motivations. It involves having an effective working model of ourselves and to use this information to regulate our lives.
Linguistic intelligence involves spoken and written language, the ability to learn languages, and the capacity to use language to accomplish certain goals. This intelligence includes the ability to effectively use language to express oneself and language as a means to remember information. This is typically the most highly valued and utilized intelligence in the school setting.
Logical-mathematical intelligence consists of the capacity to analyze problems logically, carry out mathematical operations, and investigate issues scientifically. It is the ability to detect patterns, reason deductively and think logically. This intelligence is most often associated with scientific and mathematical thinking.
Musical intelligence involves skill in the performance, composition, and appreciation of musical patterns. It encompasses the capacity to recognize and compose musical pitches, tones, and rhythms.
Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence involves using one's whole body or parts of the body to solve problems. It is the ability to use mental abilities to coordinate bodily movements. People that excel at sports have a high bodily-kinesthetic intelligence.
Spatial intelligence involves the potential to recognize and use the patterns of space, to visualize abstractly, and manipulate images mentally in order to solve problems.
Interpersonal intelligence is the capacity to understand the intentions, motivations and desires of other people. It allows people to work effectively with others.
Intrapersonal intelligence is the ability to understand oneself, to appreciate one's feelings, fears and motivations. It involves having an effective working model of ourselves and to use this information to regulate our lives.