PPSEL 2011-2012 5/6 Crew: Spectacular Day for Field Work- Sphere in the Headlights

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Spectacular Day for Field Work- Sphere in the Headlights

At this location many questions were posed to get the kids to think about how the land has these contours and what are the causes for the way the land is now. We have spent time learning about the hydrosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere and have been considering their interactions. We are going to be focusing on the lithosphere in our first case study. The kids kept field notes on clipboards. All the way to the top they walked and worked in triad groups to grow socially and academically together. Together, they noticed and wondered, took pictures to document 'sphere' interaction and then had time for reflection.

Guiding Principles from Responsive Classroom

There are 7 principles that have been researched and followed by educational theorists and experienced classroom teachers. These principles guide my best practice techniques. It is necessary to be absolutely purposeful in cooperative learning methods.

1. The social curriculum is as important as the academic curriculum.

2. How children learn is as important as what they learn: Process and Content go hand in hand.

3. The greatest cognitive growth occurs through social interaction.

4.To be successful academically and socially, children need a set of social skills: cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control.

5. Knowing the children we teach-individually, culturally, and developmentally-is as important as knowing the content we teach.

6. Knowing the families of he children we teach and working with them as partners is essential to children's education.

7. How the adults at school work together is as important as individual competence: Lasting change begins with the adult community.