Do your students look at you in disbelief when you remind
them that the upcoming test on chapter 11 will include vocabulary and concepts
from previous chapters?I’m
somehow always amazed that students think learning should be totally
compartmentalized…”learned” it, showed you, forgot it….now let’s move on.Upon closer inspection perhaps we
should ask ourselves if we are doing anything to dispel this attitude.
Maybe it’s because January is typically a time to get organized or perhaps it’s a carry over from all of the end-of-the-year “best of” lists, but I have found myself making more lists than usual lately.This is actually saying something, as Iam, by nature, a list maker.There are grocery lists, errand lists, packing lists, to-do lists, books to read list and the list goes on and on.
A reader recently responded to an article on Sustained Silent Reading by saying, “My only concern with SSR is how do you encourage students who just flat hate reading?” She went on to make the following suggestions, “…a) students that like to draw, can read a little, draw a little from the book, and then repeat; b) have audio books available WITH the actual book, they have to look at the words and turn the pages along with the audio book; c) Pair students who don't like to read and have them take turns reading the book out loud to each other (no, it's not silent, but it gets them reading).”
Many people like to start the year by making New Year’s resolutions. While you may have mixed results with the activity (as I have), this can be a valuable activity to use with your students during those first days back at school. For the student who struggled before the winter break, it’s a chance to start anew. Even students who may have been successful can benefit from the process of goal setting.
“Since time is the one immaterial object which we cannot influence—neither speed up nor slow down, add to nor diminish—it is an imponderably valuable gift.” -Maya Angelou
