Teacher Learning Community

Spring 2019 TLC: Access and Participation in the Thinking Classroom - Activity 4 Resources

Course leader:
SEED Team

Teacher Quality Standards

  • QS II: Teachers establish a safe, inclusive and respectful learning environment for a diverse population of students.
    • Element C: Teachers engage students as individuals, including those with diverse needs and interests, across a range of ability levels by adapting their teaching for the benefit of all students.

Guiding Question: How can I instill a sense of agency in students, empowering all as learners?

In this final activity teachers will examine specific ways of supporting students as they build agency as learners. Our end goal as teachers is to help students become confident and competent learners and to see themselves as such. The design of the classroom environment and the learning therein can add to or detract from this mission.

 

Resources

No Parents Allowed: Inside New York City's Riskiest Playground

This news article gives a picture of how we might let children explore.

COLLAB Breakout Session: Academic Tenacity- Mindsets and Skills that Promote Long-Term Learning

In this report, the idea of Academic Tenacity is defined with aspects that include growth mindset, goals, belonging, and self-control. Factors that can improve these aspects are explored as are three specific ways that teachers and schools can more effectively foster academic tenacity.

The Things We Say

This article is a book review of Choice Words. The topic is examining how the words teachers use help determine their views about themselves and their ability.

Understanding How the Brain Thinks

In this article, educator and neurologist Judy Willis describes how brains develop critical thinking skills. It addresses ways that classroom practices can help build executive function. 

Student-Centered Learning: Building Agency and Engagement

This classroom example provides a look at how students can gain more ownership over their learning as the teacher moves to a facilitative role.

The Art and Science of Developing Student Agency

This resource outlines several ways of increasing students' confidence, choice, and creativity through the design of classroom work.

What Failing Students Want Us to Remember

This blog post is a reminder of the ways that educators can see the school environment through the eyes of a struggling student.  

How Design Thinking Can Empower Young People

Watch how one school brings learning alive for their students: "At People Serving People, a homeless shelter in Minneapolis, local design firms and educators work together to show kids how design thinking can help them make a difference in their neighborhoods."

Student Voice and Choice: At Their Own Pace

Follow along with teachers and students as they embrace a personalized learning journey. 

The Work of Play

Young children learn in an authentic setting when we "give students the opportunity to learn through play."