How long have you been teaching?
Thirty-seven years - been in Mount Olive since 1969, started before the Open Classroom as a junior high social studies teacher in Appalachia, switched to elementary school and embraced the concept of the Open Classroom which I have been refining ever since. I've developed my skills actively by teaching many grade levels, by taking courses at every opportunity by reading and by interacting with lots of wonderful educators.
What is the best thing about your Leaner-active classroom?
Children are enthusiastic about school - they can finish their work successfully, work at their own level, speed and style. The children discipline themselves because it's a natural way of learning and growing. Parents and administrators see that the children are learning basic skills and completing the curriculum.
How has problem-based learning unit impacted your students learning?
They learn more material more rapidly and retain it better because it has both emotional impact and real connections to other learning. The open-ended aspect of completing PBLs is enticing for many students, especially when they reach opposing conclusions and have to reconcile their positions or explain how there can be more than one solution.
What classroom structures have you found increase student effectiveness?
This year I have extended my usual activity rotation grid and small group differentiation to self-scheduling for the students. I moved into self-scheduling very gradually, but now the children are scheduling a whole week at a time. Every Monday morning I present the work for the week. I also tell the children when there will be bench-mark and mini-lessons although there will probably be several spontaneous min-lessons. Self-scheduling has been really effective for my class because I can do so much individualization. The parents have been very appreciative of the amount of individual attention that their children get. Many of the parents have also commented on how the children are becoming more responsible and more aware of time.
What role does technology play in you classroom?
The children use technology naturally. It is truly infused thoughout our day. We have two desk top computers and three laptops.