Well, that didn't work!
My teaching experiences come from working at an Elementary school where I have worked with both second and fifth grades.
I am of the belief that kids should not have to sit at a desk all day in order to learn. I think they can learn best if they are engaged in a specific learning activity that has them out of their seats.
I had the privilege of being able to work in small groups. This made it easier to do the various activities I had planned for them.
My teaching experiences come from working at an Elementary school where I have worked with both second and fifth grades.
I am of the belief that kids should not have to sit at a desk all day in order to learn. I think they can learn best if they are engaged in a specific learning activity that has them out of their seats.
I had the privilege of being able to work in small groups. This made it easier to do the various activities I had planned for them.
One activity was a game I first played with the second graders. We used the hallway as our game board as it had rows of 12' x 12' squares. Each student had their own soft-sided, over-sized dice, which they rolled after answering the problem on the math flashcard I would show them correctly and, being the game piece, they would advance down the hallway. The kids loved playing this because it got them out of the classroom, but also because it helped them brush up on their math skills and practice being quiet in the hallway. They also demonstrated good team work as they encouraged each other, would help count the squares, or help fetch the dice if it went astray. The students also demonstrated good sportsmanship, listening skills, and winning or losing graciously.
It was very successful so, naturally, I played it with the fifth graders. Was that a mistake! Apparently, the older they get, the whinier kids become. And, of course, listening and following directions is a thing left behind in the classroom. Being in the hall meant playtime, rolling dice turned into throwing it down the hall, and losing the game brought pouting. I was so surprised and disappointed by their behavior! Unfortunately, the game never would last long and the students that did do what they were supposed to were so disappointed. I would like to think peer pressure alone would snap some of them into place. Just a look alone from one of those well behaved students should be enough to take care of that!
So, that game is on the shelf, at least, where older students are concerned. I will just have to stick with staying in the classroom. Or, I could find a heavier dice that they can't throw!
