Reflection
As teachers, we are always reflecting on our practice. We think about how our lessons could've gone better. We think about how we should have prepared better. We think about how these kids shouldn't have been partners. We think...and think...and think. It's important to us as teachers, but it's also important to our students.
I have a group of kindergartners and a group of 1st graders that I meet with twice a week to do coding using the lessons provided from code.org. One of the lessons is about perseverance and has students work with a partner to build a structure using toothpicks and gumdrops. Their structure had to be a certain height and had to support an iPad for 10 seconds. After students had a chance to persevere through this activity, I gave them some new options. They could choose one of the "rules" to change. They could have more toothpicks, more gumdrops, a smaller structure or less time holding the iPad. But, they could only pick ONE. Before they could use their new rules to try again, they had to record themselves talking about the options using the camera app on the iPad.
Skip ahead, and you'll get to today's lesson (1st grade). We watched their videos and students had to "grade" themselves based on a short and easy rubric. (Click on the rubric below to grab it.)
It was amazing to watch them. They looked at their videos through a specific lens and as soon as they noticed something from the rubric (either positive or negative) they either talked to their partner, immediately placed a check in their rubric, or made a face that said they got it! It was so fun to watch. And, not every student agreed, so it was fun to have them talk to each other.
Can't wait to see how it goes with my Kinders this week!
