Learning Skills

This week, Ms. Leom is starting to introduce and model "learning skills". They are "subtle" lessons that are part of the academic lesson. These learning skills are modeling what to do in different scenerios and helping students make better choices.

Scenerio 1: I can't see the board very well to write down notes.

Ms. Leom offers three strategies to choose from:
1.) Grab a clipboard and sit on the rug.
2.) Look at a neighbor's paper. We are taking notes. EVERYONE has the SAME information. It is not copying.
3.) USE your own copy of the article and read it on the page you are writing from. You can underline what is discussed in class. Underlining doesn't take a lot of time. Then record it.

Students use clipboards and move closer to the front.

Scenerio 2: You have an assignment and you feel overwhelmed. You aren't sure what to do.

Advice: "Pretend you know."
Think of a student in last year's class or someone you know who always seems to know what to do. What would that person do first?
* read the directions
* start with what they know
* allow yourself to make a mistake and erase. You are further along.

Today, Ms. Leom modeled daydreaming about what she was doing after school ... NOT an effective option! You are further behind, have nothing to show for your time, and now have a list of things you would rather be doing.

Soon, Ms. Leom will model a tantrum and tears ... another NOT effective option.

We want students to be successful. It includes teaching, modeling, and working on strategies that students can use. We use "think alouds", modeling the messages you say to yourself inside your head to talk yourself through a situation. We recognize students who problem solve and find resolutions and share them as examples.

We are learning skills to be successful!