Chapter 4: Raise Your Expectations
I feel I am always trying to challenge my students to raise their expectations. I agree that many times they are set way too low. When I student taught in a kindergarten class, by the end of the year they were adding simple numbers using manipulatives. I was absolutely amazed. Now with my first graders, I am always pushing them and trying to get them to achieve at their highest level. During a team meeting, our lead teacher was going over some of the indicators for Math. In first grade they are to know how to count to 100. But by second grade it’s something like 1,000 (I need to double check that number). However high, it was a big jump. So now we focus more on trying to get the students to count and write as high as they can. The more you expect and push your students, the better they will be later on. It is very important to have high expectations when it comes to writing. Many kids are so lackadaisical when it comes to writing. With everything around them becoming more and more technology related, they don’t take the time to truly perfect writing. Text messages and emails are all abbreviated to save time and punctuations are not included in texts. When it comes time to get a job, they will be hurt if they did not take the time to learn how to write and communicate correctly. That is what employers are looking for. A resume needs to be articulated correctly, flow, and make sense or they will be less likely to get the job.
I like your picture to go along with raising our expectations. I think this is one of my favorite chapters because I truly believe in it so much. Last year I really raised my expectations and I feel as if it paid off for both the students and myself. Kids can do a lot more at this young age than we realize. They are like spounges!
ReplyDeleteWe have both taught k and 1st. The advancements in students knowledge in those primary grades is great and sometimes unbelievable!
I agree with your statement that everything around our kiddos these days is technology. It is tough to get kids motivated to actually pick up a pencil instead of hit a button on their controller. Maybe some teachers should get together and make a writing PS3 or Wii game!
I like how you have your students discuss what was read. I think that is a good way for them to comprehend the stories.
ReplyDeleteIn the busy technology rich times it is hard to get students excited about writing and to understand how important it is to know how to correctly communicate-without the cell phones-texting-or the computer-typing. (Ur resume cant be all in txt msg form-I am not sure I even wrote that in text message form correctly, but I think you get the idea. :-)