Reflection 4: Multi Talented Teacher

Can anything be more challenging than grabbing students' interest in the subjects and try to keep them to focus during learning process?

            Grab students’ attention in the beginning of the class is one of the challenges that should be faced by teacher. There are some strategies to make students focus in the early of lesson; by using question or example of case problem, concrete example and the information of the objective of lesson. Roehler and Duffy (1991) said the activities that teacher do in the beginning of the class should integrate students’ focus and prior knowledge of students to build a schemata of lesson. In the other say, what we do in the beginning of the class should represent the knowledge that will be taught. I tried to use some pictures which related with the subject. For example, I taught causative and modal verb words which used in rules or regulation and relate it with current topic of reality show. I show some pictures of reality show that students’ know and then ask them to mention the rules of the game in reality show. After that we analyze each of rule and tell them that in make rules commonly we use causative or modal verb.

            The activity should run step by step. Building schemata by using prior knowledge, analyze the example and then the explanation or additional knowledge to improve their cognitive development. In my opinion as a teacher we should be follow the trend that popular in students but we should have good control in class. It is use for help teacher in deliver the information or grabs students’ attention. The weakness is our plan will be ruined if we cannot control the students in using trending topic for learning. 

            In guide students in learning, teacher should provide clear instruction and explanation which is contextual. The level of instruction and opportunity for learning which teacher provide affect Students achievement in comprehending knowledge (Tuttle, 1991). The activity should involve the participation from students and give good feedback for the improvement of students’ level. It is as scaffolding from teacher because teachers try to help students to relate the basic knowledge with the knowledge or activity to make new meaning in learning process (Resenshine & Meister, 1992). Based on my experiences I prefer to ask my students to work in group. They can share the knowledge and more involve in learning process. I do not feed them all of the material because my role here as a guide, so I should control the students understanding from outside the group. Cooperative learning will improve students in socializing (Knapp, Turnbull & Shields, 1990) so I choose it to develop their social skill.  I usually give feedback in orally by ask the other students to analyze the question if there is a students who make wrong answer. The feedback style is according to the activity. To tell students about what should be improved it will be better deliver by face to face or paper feedback for the confidentiality of students. 

            Try to combine all of aspects in instructional variable and become multi talented teacher which have different roles in different situation are the way to create focus learning and teaching. That is my strategy to develop my teaching and help my students in learning. How about you friend?

Reference:

 An article Instructional Variables in Meeting Individual Needs. Retrieved November 21, 2012 from  http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/res/literacy/meet2.html.