PLANNING AHEAD AND THINKING ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE
While there is still a month left until school starts, it’s time I start to slowly face reality that a new school year is approaching. I’ll be in a new grade level and a new building. I keep reading a Ben Franklin quote that says “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Let’s just say relaxing on the couch and sitting on my back deck drinking coffee are much more enjoyable! Looks like I need to start preparing. This year, I want to transition into a student-centered classroom that reflects community, collaboration, and respect. I want to do things differently because I’m entering in my sixth year of teaching and it’s time I put all of my research and experience into focused practice.
BENEFITS OF A STUDENT-CENTERED CLASSROOM
“A simple change can touch a single person, or it can affect thousands or millions of people” (Barnes, 5). This is known as the butterfly effect. As teachers in the classroom, we can promote a powerful future with the decisions we make in the classroom today. The intrinsic motivation that guides us throughout our lives can be nurtured because people are motivated by three things: autonomy, mastery, and purpose” (Barnes, 22).
In a student-centered classroom, students construct their own learning through implementation of the constructivist learning theory. Student-centered classrooms focus on creating a learning environment that engages students through autonomy, mastery of content, and a purpose for growing their minds. They focus on intrinsic motivation, a results-oriented learning environment, providing immediate and consistent feedback, evaluating student growth, and reviewing performance. Academic choice and sharing control are major components of this management style. You have to be willing to give up a little control for this to work!!
A COLLECTION OF RESOURCES
My intent for this post is two-fold. I want to share resources with all of you and I want to create a place to go for all of my resources I want to implement in my classroom. I hope to try out, add, and update this post as often as necessary to reflect current practices that provide authentic learning opportunities for the students we serve.
I hope these resources I have gathered will support your student-centered classroom.
Writing Centers
Students love to be creative! Give your students opportunities to create their own unique approach to writing. These ideas are a great way to reinforce student-centered learning.
Mystery Bags
Encourage vivid imaginations and terrific tales through thoughtfully curated items that will peak curiosity.
Build a Story
Integrate language standards and have students brainstorm parts of speech. Students draw cards or fill-in-the-blank to create stories.
Memory Twists
Check out The Thinker Builder and discover an exciting way to engage your students in writing by taking a memory and twisting it into fiction!
Emoji Writing
The Teachy Teacher has a great idea to get your kids writing! Roll, write, and laugh while creating one-of-a-kind stories.
Comic Books & Graphic Novels
Use templates, storyboards, and organizers to ignite creativity. Create your own or research your favorite teacher resource website!
Treat Jar
Create a treat jar full of writing prompts on different types of paper.
Projects & Games
Student-centered classrooms thrive when academic choice is an essential component. By allowing your students to choose activities based on their interests, you are giving them an opportunity to construct meaning through completing tasks that require complex thinking, analysis, synthesis, application, and creativity.
Myths, Folktales, & Fairy Tales
Your students can research and create their own stories using Scholastic’s Myths, Folktales and Fairy Tales Internet Project! Teacher’s Activity Guide
A Classroom of Published Authors
Give your students an opportunity to showcase their work through publication. Try Bare Books or Storybird for paid options. Flipsnack, Lulu, or Tikatok for free and subscription options.
Appeal to the Senses
Choose a few lessons to appeal to the senses. Let them smell, feel, touch, taste, and hear writing!
Emoji Writing
The Teachy Teacher has a great idea to get your kids writing! Roll, write, and laugh while creating one-of-a-kind stories.
Comic Books & Graphic Novels
Use templates, storyboards, and organizers to ignite creativity. Create your own or search your favorite teacher resource website.
Treat Jar
Create a treat jar full of writing prompts on different types of paper.
Teaching Strategies
Explore various strategies that deepen your students knowledge and application of writing skills. Student-centered classrooms that rely on flexibility and current needs will see engagement and products that reflect critical and creative thinking.
National Writing Project
Visit the National Writing Project website to explore resources about teaching all aspects of teaching writing.
Classroom Technology Integration
Explore this collection of ways to engage your students through authentic writing opportunities.
The Writing Strategies Book
Jennifer Serravallo has created an “everything guide” to developing skilled writers. This gold mine offers excellent lessons that will have your students begging you to write!
RAFT Writing
Build confidence in your students by providing them with a visual acronym for effective writing.
Cultivating a Student-Centered Writing Classroom
Shaelynn Farnsworth shares her “10 Tenets of a Student-Centered Writing Classroom.”
It Starts with You!
Research student-centered learning and why this 21st-century model will bring out the best in your students.
RESOURCES
Barnes, Mark. Role Reversal: Achieving Uncommonly Excellent Results in the Student-Centered Classroom.
ASCD, 2013.
