Interested in student-driven classrooms? Join Dr. Nancy Sulla @nsulla (author of Students Taking Charge, Its Not What You Teach But How, Building Executive Function: The Missing Link to Student Achievement, and more) and educators from all over in #LATICchat on Thursday nights at 8pm ET. We hope to bring together a community of educators to share insights, stories, examples, pictures from their classrooms, and more. We welcome all educators to join; no need to be running a #LATIC classroom.
A1) I find that teaching students to learn how they learn best enables them to own their learning path and be more successful. Both of these aspects help them feel good about their capabilities. #LATICchat
Celebrating successes, no matter how "small" they may appear! My students LOVED getting their name up on the expert board and at some point, every student is an expert at something! #LATICchat
A1) write an opening letter to your students highlighting what you’re good at and ask them to write back and tell you about them. #PrimingPlan#LATICchat
A2) A pillar for creating strong foundation for a collaborative environment includes discussion protocols that respects each individuals thoughts. #LATICchat
A2) Love flexible seating, and I love to see students have the opportunity to begin experiencing the different areas of the classroom and seating options on day 1! #LATICchat
A2 I think exposure to as many of the structures as possible/appropriate is beneficial! Last year we did a scavenger hunt and students coming from a LATI classroom were immediately experts on some of the structures. This year we're tweaking that scavenger hunt! #LATICchat
A2: I agree with everyone’s suggestions! We have built daily home group activities into our prison plan for all these structures and to foster teamwork. #LATICchat
A3) Including the arts is a great way to increase student to student collaboration. Engaging students in STEAM activities as well. For example, using newspapers and tape to build a tower. #LATICchat
A3) how about wrapping up or putting a bow on every structure and having students go around “collecting” the presents of learning ... something like that #LATICchat
A3) I like to set students up to have a felt need for a structure and to encounter that structure without needing me to tell them! For example, getting them to retrieve something from the Resource Table that is obvious, so they will know where it is and what it's for! #LATICchat
A3 A scavenger hunt with QR code clues/activities. This year we're adding a simply activity list for students to track their progress with finding the clues/completing the activities as well #LATICchat
A4) Intentional and consistent modeling of the #LATIC structures and strategies supports student use. Include students in the thought process of the “Why” behind your decision making/ use of the structures. #LATICchat
A4) I think @CoriUray was right about building a felt need for the structures. When they have purpose and used strategically then students will become more familiar #LATICchat
A4 Creating a felt need for them by constantly re-directing them back to the structures/modeling how to use them until it becomes second nature for them to utilize them #LATICchat
#LATICchat A5- create a bulletin board for the beginning of the year and allow Ss to use their creative skills to post and share their personal interests.
A5 Many of their activities in their scavenger hunt are getting to know you activities--games, surveys etc. While they are having fun and learning about their classmates, I learn a whole lot about them too! At BTSN parents also fill out a survey about their child #LATICchat
A5) For students who don't yet know their learning style, you can set them up to explore learning in different modalities and reflect on how learning feels. #LATICchat
A5) Facilitate students understanding of nature vs. nature. Provide students experiences that challenge all aspects of life and abilities they possess/ lack. #LATICchat
A6 We have lots of different types of work spaces! Flexible seating allows for different places to sit to work alone/partners/groups & more quiet/less quiet areas. During summer coaching @MinaHarrisIDE suggested we have students label these areas in the priming plan! #LATICchat
A6) Having different nooks in your classroom. Reading area, small tables for pair collaboration, tables that are for sitting/standing so Ss can work in groups, carpet squares for the floor. I've seen so many cool spaces @CWTESPrincipal@BPMSPatriots@CENMS#LATICchat
A6) task management grid, parking lot, and thinking up a way to have an interactive word wall where kids post interesting/important terms they come across while working on ALUs/#LATICchat
A7) Students can preview some of what they'll learn during the year to come, ask questions and set goals. Starting the year this way sets the tone that their questions/interests matter! #LATICchat
A7 I think creating felt need and engagement are the key to this. When students are engaged and feel a need/purpose to work, they take greater ownership because they're looking for that pride and success at the end! #LATICchat
A6) Designing a classroom strategically to empower students in positive decision making encourages collaboration. This includes welcoming/ warm reading areas, standing activities to write/draw thoughts they grapple with or including flexible seating. #LATICchat
A8) modeling self-assessment and goal setting, having metacognitive discussions with Ss during facilitation, promoting S experts, and most importantly celebrating every victory, big or small #LATICchat
A8) Discussion protocols can support students in gaining collaborative and critical thinking capacities. Students hearing other students have high-level conversations fosters their thinking as well! #LATICchat
A8 Reminding Ss that they know the answer to their questions or know how to get their answer! Sometimes that means probing with questions like "How can you solve that problem?" I think empowering them to identify their next step is important #LATICchat
