While searching for links to “student centered classrooms,” I saw lots of articles arguing passionately for a shift in focus RIGHT NOW away from top-down/teacher-centered learning environments. Our quickly changing world is pushing education at all levels to rethink traditions.
We are lucky at Parker. It has always been our view that putting the children at the center of the learning environment promotes their full engagement and passions.
Teachers do have the expertise to plan curriculum and design learning opportunities that develop the skills our students need. We have a voice in the classroom but we are not the sole voice--our students help to shape their educational journey. So, a Parker teacher acts as a facilitator of learning.
With greater autonomy, a Parker student has greater responsibility. The children are constantly working to hone their independent thinking and problem solving skills. Learning how to most effectively and respectfully communicate—both student-to-student and student-to-teacher—is a huge part of each day’s work. And assessing how to set the bar higher for the work they produce is their daily challenge.
Teaching really is different in a learner-centered environment. There are five characteristics of learner-centered teaching, according to a blog aimed at college professors (http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/five-characteristics-of-learner-centered-teaching/):
1. Learner-centered teaching engages students in the hard, messy work of learning.
2. Learner-centered teaching includes explicit skill instruction.
3. Learner-centered teaching encourages students to reflect on what they are learning and how they are learning it.
4. Learner-centered teaching motivates students by giving them some control over learning processes.
5. Learner-centered teaching encourages collaboration.
As the 2-3s move into their independent research topics on the Hudson River, I can’t wait to see the multiple ways they’ll dig in and get down to writing and creating. They’ll have to organize their essays and find their voice, use their hands to build models and food webs, work through frustration and find their focus, mentor and help each other out, and assess and improve their own work. Finally, together they will create a multi-faceted presentation of their learning for you and the larger Parker community at our Show of Work.
It'll be hard work--the best kind of work. It'll be messy--that's because the deepest learning rarely follows a safe and steady course. These are my favorite times in the room so I, for one, can't wait. :)
The pictures below are from the last few weeks.
Drop Everything and Read
The 2-3s are typically reading for about 30 minutes straight. This learner-centered activity provides students with a chance to stretch those reading muscles in books that are a good fit for their reading skills.
Stamina and focus are building!!!
Collaborating with Cornell Cooperative Extension gardeners and our buddies
to plant trees on our beautiful property.
Muddy Boots
in the woods together
Connecting
with our buddies
