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Lesson Plans


Re: students still not getting it

From: Woody Duncan (wduncan)
Date: Wed Feb 09 2000 - 16:59:40 PST

  • Next message: Janjarreau: "Re: NEA/NPR Funding"

    I teach middle school and understand what you are saying. The suggestions
    I'm making you most likely do already. I always demo each step with the students
    around me. I require I eye contact, and do whatever gets and holds
    their attention for
    a moment or two. I demo one step at a time and tell them we will worry
    about step
    two and three later. It gets better as they get older (sometimes) and I
    let those
    classes in on the big picture. With a good simple demo you can reach
    50% or better.
    Then you monitor the rest as you move about the room. Today my new 6th graders
    discovered the old fashioned stuff called carbon paper. Many used it
    upside down.
    I simply told them that they had learned to create a copy of their
    drawing on the
    back of their original. It might come in handy some day. In fact it's
    a good method
    of creating a reversed image for printmaking. It's a hoot each day. I
    make 12 xerox
    copies of their original drawings, inside 2 triangles (rhombus), for
    their tessellation.
    One student cut his original drawing out before giving it to me to copy.
     The next day
    he was perplexed as to why the copies didn't come out of the xerox
    machine already
    cut out. I told him to think on the logic of that one for a while. The
    light bulb finally
    came on. Hang in there, be flexible and roll with the punches. It does
    get better.
                                            After 24 years, Woody in KC

    Aaron and Jennifer wrote:
    >
    > Argh. Frustration is beginning to settle in again. I have this class
    > that no matter what I do, they don't understand the project. I have given
    > large/small group and individual demonstrations. I give handouts on the
    > procedure as well as write it on the board. I have had the students show me
    > how to do it, repeat the directions, show other students how to do it. And I
    > am running out of options. 

    -- 
                I'm from Kansas,  where evolution is outlawed
                 and the monkeys are in charge of the schools
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You are welcome to visit my Web Site at http://www.taospaint.com
  This E-mail message is from Artist/Teacher Woody Duncan
             Rosedale Middle School in Kansas City, Kansas
     the new URL for school is http://kancrn.kckps.k12.ks.us/rosedale
to see the newest photos of my beautiful grandkids Tim, Tess and Tiff 
        click on http://www.taospaint.com/Triplets2ndChristmas.html
                to see my students working in the RMSartSTUDIO 
 click on http://kancrn.kckps.k12.ks.us/rosedale/Art.SelfExpression.html
   to see our new art go to http://taospaint.com/StudentArt2000a.html

    ---

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