Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Summer Jitters

Is anyone starting to notice students sliding into summer mode? As I am observing students in the hall or in my classes, I am noticing students are starting to get more and more fidgety and are starting to lose their focus.

As the weather gets warmer and the students get more anxious to be out of school, in what ways do you all hope to keep your students focus on school?

5 comments:

  1. Hi Gina,
    I can defintely relate to that. I think the toughest group I have right now is Seniors. There are still a few that don't know what they are going to do next year and therefore are being disprectful and at times giving up on work. I think having continual checkins with individuals will help... Also in the classroom, I used to just turn the lights off and have them work quietly. Although it put some of them to sleep--they were quiet! Good luck!

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  2. WOW! I'm wondering what my 6th graders will be like once they are seniors. I have noticed that their behavior is sliding as we approach the end of the year, especially in the halls and lunchroom. In class, I have the advantage (and sometimes, disadvantage) of not having any windows. That seems to add to it.

    I think that it's also really helpful to do group project and active engagement type assignments more heavily as the year goes on. Harness the excitement! For 6th grade, the kids love to share things about themselves with their peers so let their creativity run free!

    Or just pop in a movie like the social studies teacher do. ;)

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  3. I'm with Eric--I think it is time for those fun projects. I notice 6th grade science does their wind turbine project now. What a great way to get kids outside. One year, every day day after spring break, I had kids go outside for a few minutes at the beginning of class and just journal. And they could journal about what it's like outside, any sign of spring, anything they see, etc. I left it really free form. The whole class would come back inside more relaxed, and I felt they were more focused. An added plus was me getting to go outside--at that time I was in a classroom with no windows--so getting outside for a few minutes each class period helped me enjoy the coming warm weather, and helped me focus as well!

    Just an idea . . .

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  4. I'm definitely noticing the 8th grade come out in my 7th graders. They are becoming too cool to pay attention and are trying harder than ever to place attention on themselves. I like the idea about doing fun activities that are also assessments. At the end of the year we have students write a story and then turn it into a play and perform it in groups. But I also think that a way to keep them focused is to keep them actively doing things. I was noticing this today in my class as students were absentmindedly staring as we were analyzing a poem. Whether it is a sorting activity or writing poetry about their lives, my students definitely need to keep there hands busy so their minds stay engaged. Especially with all this testing.

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  5. I find as the year gets closer and closer to the end, one way I find myself trying to increase student engagement is to step up my acting skills. I think teaching throughout the whole year is much like acting regardless, but I think it becomes even more important to "put on an exciting show" at the end. I find if I am energized (sometimes even faking the energy or excitement about a topic) my students have no choice but to also get more excited or at least stay awake and think about how crazy it is that I love social studies so much. :)

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