Resource Log #10/ Reflection

Using a Constructivist Approach to Teaching. ASCD(2001). Retrieved January 28, 2009, fromDiscovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/


This is a video that gives an outline, a small example, and some student views on constructivist teaching. While I'm watching the video, I kept asking myself, "How am I teaching my kids?" I think my district is most supportive and advocative of constructivist practices. In our reading units, I am to give a small mini-lesson, then turn the students loose in their partners and have them try to apply and practice the lesson with a similar piece of text that I used for whole group instruction. Last week, I had one lesson where they were all on task. As I walked around the room I heard them talking about the article and try to practice the skills I had just taught them. However, I had two lesson where as I walked around, I corrected more on task behavior than hearning them try to apply skills. But I forgot to stop and ask myself why they were off task, did they not understand? Did they already master or have enough experience with this skill that they did not need the practice? It has given me something to think about.

In the video, the instructor talks about assessing minutely and because of my example above I see her point. I am constantly looking for understanding and misinterpretation. I am also trying to figure out how I can pull something out of a wrong answer. She mentioned this in the video also and one of her students said how they appriciated that she tries to always point out the positive if they miss the point.