Activities

I enjoyed learning about different activities that can be incorporated into the classroom. Lectures are beneficial, but not every student responds well to lectures only. Using multi modal ways of teaching will enable you to accommodate for all of your students. I really love the graffiti board idea. I did things similar to this when I was in high school. It is a great way to bring the class together but also allow them to add their individual thoughts to the group. For students who are usually quiet, it gives them a chance to voice their opinion as well. Last Wednesday, we talked a little bit about using skits in class and how they are effective. I think that they certainly can be effective, if you have a group of students who are enthusiastic to do it. I do think it is important to pull kids out of their comfort zones sometimes, but you have to make sure that by doing it, you are not defeating the purpose. If the students are going to absolutely dread the activity you have planned, then the point of the lesson may be lost. It could work the opposite way though! Sometimes the very thing you dread doing, after doing it, you can't imagine why you hated it for so long. It's like riding a roller coaster for the first time. You may be nervous and even uncomfortable to ride it for the first time, afterwards though, you realize you conquered your fears and had a good time. I think doing activities like these in class include a little bit of a risk, but I think it is beneficial for the students to try and learn best as many ways as possible. (: