Kate Martin - Chapter 3 Secret of Instruction

            This chapter reinforces things I've heard throughout my educational career. I've noticed in my own teaching, that it is important to get their attention and make it relevant at the very beginning of class. It seems like they do so much better if we start off talking about a concept before defining it. For example, during our electricity unit for 6^th grade, I asked them to talk about a time that they've been shocked. I also asked them to explain the situation leading up to the shock, and they were really enthusiastic about telling me anecdotes about their lives. We then started our magnetism section within this chapter with the electromagnet used in Toy Story 3, which was a big hit. When they were able to relate to the content, they were more focused throughout the class. I also liked that the book reminds us to make sure we are assessing what we are teaching the way we teach it. I learned this the hard way last week when students overall did poorly on a quiz I gave. Most of our classes have been discussion based where students offer hypotheses and examples, but my quiz was very literal and multiple choice. I probably would've seen better results if I allowed them to write their own examples and explanations. I also like that the book mentioned fast paced lessons being effective tools in managing a classroom. I've noticed this in my placement as well. Some lessons are a little content heavy and students have their things packed up before the bell rings. Other lessons are really engaging, and students ask “was that our bell?” and “will we have time to work on this tomorrow?” Those lessons always feel more rewarding to me, and they flow more smoothly. As I’m getting better at teaching/planning, I do my best to incorporate student involvement and movement in the classroom. I have a variety of activities that are short so students are able to move through them quickly and effectively. Things are getting easier and I am able to better determine why things happen/ what to do to fix them. This chapter did a good job explaining in words what I have been experiencing in my student teaching so far.