Day 848 -- Writing on Desks
I tried out something new in my classes today. My students were looking at me like they wanted to day during our second day of discussing and practicing drawing Lewis structures for covalent molecules. In my third hour, I got an idea in my head and I decided to try it out.
I asked my students to completely clear their desks of all materials except for their periodic tables. Then, I gave each of them a dry erase marker (okay, to be perfectly honest, I actually chucked them across the room) and a piece of paper towel. Instead of going through tedious example problems on a sheet of paper, or watching my do them on the board, I asked them to write their work on the surface of their desks with the dry erase markers.
You should have seen their faces when I told them to write on the desks. In an instant, I won them back over. They were still practicing Lewis structures, but their whole demeanor changed. They became engaged, active, happy learners versus passive, miserable ones. Just this one little thing helped them learn...if only because it was different and kept their attention.
I am so thankful for this small improvement in our day. It definitely made my class more enjoyable for my students, which makes it more enjoyable for me, too.
Thank God for writing on desks!
Lord, thank you for giving me a little help today with my teaching. Thank you for small things that have a big impact. Thank you for always helping me to grow and get better. In your name I pray, Amen.
I asked my students to completely clear their desks of all materials except for their periodic tables. Then, I gave each of them a dry erase marker (okay, to be perfectly honest, I actually chucked them across the room) and a piece of paper towel. Instead of going through tedious example problems on a sheet of paper, or watching my do them on the board, I asked them to write their work on the surface of their desks with the dry erase markers.
You should have seen their faces when I told them to write on the desks. In an instant, I won them back over. They were still practicing Lewis structures, but their whole demeanor changed. They became engaged, active, happy learners versus passive, miserable ones. Just this one little thing helped them learn...if only because it was different and kept their attention.
I am so thankful for this small improvement in our day. It definitely made my class more enjoyable for my students, which makes it more enjoyable for me, too.
Thank God for writing on desks!
Lord, thank you for giving me a little help today with my teaching. Thank you for small things that have a big impact. Thank you for always helping me to grow and get better. In your name I pray, Amen.
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