Teacher Actions and Student Goals

In a previous post I listed nine student goals for student classroom that my Science Methods course came up with this semester.  One of the standards that I need to meet to satisfy the course standards is to, "Clearly promote (student) goals through teacher behavior/actions."  It's interesting that I put this goal off because honestly, it seems very basic to me.  If you want your students to do certain things, then provide opportunities for them to do so.

1. Students will demonstrate a robust understanding of science content.
2. Students will apply problem solving/questioning skills in daily life.
3. Students will demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively.
4. Students will effectively communicate ideas (e.g. methods, explanations, information).
5. Students will apply and relate science concepts beyond the science classroom.
6. Students will research and clearly defend their reasoning using credible sources/evidence.
7. Students will demonstrate curiosity.
8. Students will demonstrate self-reflection.
9. Students will use imagination and creativity in their work.

If a teacher wants his/her students to demonstrate they must allow their students to speak or create something that displays their knowledge.

If a student is to apply their knowledge and questioning skills in daily life that teacher must make their concepts concrete and transferable.  If science concepts are supposed to to transfer to outside of the classroom then the concepts discussed in the classroom should have roots in student experience.

When a teacher want students to work collaboratively, that teacher must allow those students to work as a team, speak, argue, debate, team up, and work it out.  Teachers need to have good classroom management but they do not need to be authoritarian for their students to be respectful and on task.

If a student is to communicate their ideas, they must first be confident enough to speak and have ideas of their own.  Free thinking and free speaking is a right that should be nourished in all children through thoughtful use of observation, experimentation, discussion, varied text, and less direct instruction.

For students to research and defend they must have access to credible research and the confidence to back it up.  Students must have faith in their own knowledge and voice.  That means you, as a teacher, must be credible.  You must guide them away from content misconceptions while allowing them to make their own decisions.

If students are to be creative and self-reflective then they must know their own self.  To be creative is to have the confidence to think beyond one's usual comfort zone and to make connections between different ways of thinking.  To be self-reflective is to be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses.  Students must have opportunities to succeed and fail.  Sometimes success doesn't teach us a thing while failure leads us to try new things.

Try, try again.