Reading the textbook for this class has definitely helped me become a better teacher, as it has given me heightened awareness about using each of these very important strategies in my classroom on a daily basis. The first, and definitely easiest, thing I've done, is to start using A LOT more stickers and stamps on my students' work to reinforce their effort. It's amazing how much that little token means to them, and the fact that I can praise their effort, even if they didn't succeed with the highest grade they would have liked to get. Considering the fact that Identifying Similarities and Differences showed such measurable improvements in test scores, I have recently been giving that strategy a lot of attention also. I use any chance I can get to call attention to similarities and differences in every subject I am teaching, and therefore teach the students to do the same. I have also taken a new approach to Providing Feedback to my students. I used to simply give a "Good Job" or "Great" on an assignment for feedback. I have recently been making more of an effort to give specific feedback when I'm walking around helping students, and also putting more specific comments on their papers.
The main thing that excites me about incorporating more of these strategies is integrating them with technology. I have picked up SO MANY great technology ideas and sites through this class, that each Thursday I can't wait to get to school and try them with my students! Just having the interaction with other professionals who are using the same text and taking the same class has been very beneficial to me. The collaboration is awesome! I have learned way more from my classmates than I would have learned if I had simply read this book on my own! Thanks everyone!
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