Tuesday, February 24, 2015

When students take charge


Student-led conferences will be rolling around in a couple of weeks, and the preparation has already begun.  Students of all ages will choose pieces of work that show their strengths - and pieces that illustrate areas where they need to grow. They answer questions designed to foster self-analysis, "What do I do well - and which piece of work shows it?"and "What steps do I need to take to improve?"  They practice the presentations well before conference day.

Students gain a feeling of responsibility for their own learning and success - a key skill for life. Practice with self-reflection gives them confidence and self-knowledge.  From a parent's perspective, the typical question, "How's my kid doing?" segues into realization that their child is able to look deeply and set real goals.

In the Mindshift article Why Students Should Take the Lead in Parent-Teacher Conferences, the authors say, "Over time the parents begin to set a higher bar for their children at these conferences."

Walking around and observing the family groupings at student-led conferences is one of my favorite things at school.  The conversations are revealing and often touching.  The child holds his or her parents' undivided attention and feels their respect and pride.  They both glow.  So do the teachers.

Friday, February 13, 2015

The beauty of blocks


Big blocks, little blocks, hollow blocks - they're simple and classic  - and research says they increase kids' language skills.  Blocks promote slow play - the opposite of the beeps and buzzes that rev up the brain when kids use digital toys and games.  Blocks also promote social interaction, cooperation, and spacial reasoning.  Playing with blocks builds executive functioning - the skill that most predicts success later in life.

Blocks are a practically perfect toy in every way.  Read about Why Slowing Down Stimuli to Real Time Helps a Child's Brain.  At home or at school, blocks rule!