Ginger Tatem's insightful, intuitive approach to teaching has created a powerful setting for student learning. Ginger (see class Web site) engages students by honoring their abilities and guiding them as they interact with ideas, to increase their active participation in the learning process. Recently, Ginger was featured on the local cable channel (direct link to video page or video itself), when her class performed a mock trial based on a reading of The Outsiders. She shares, "I set up the tasks, offered mini-lessons, provided the rubrics, brought in the computer cart, and acted as a constant resource (see links for ideas about Mock Trial). They investigated the court system, wrote the prosecution and defense, created opening and closing statements, searched for evidence in the novel, interviewed fellow classmates, and were videotaped for the township cable station." As her class has moved on to other texts, they naturally contrast character development, theme, and writing style to The Outsiders. One student observed, "When you think about the book so much, it teaches you about yourself." Another student commented, "I didn't know I could get up and speak like that. I'm thinking now of becoming a lawyer."
What led you to become a teacher?
Ginger worked as a naturalist in the county park system for 5 years, designing and implementing environmental programs for students, before choosing to stay home with her daughters. She was active in their classrooms, running hands-on programs in science, language arts, and social studies. When her children moved on from elementary school, she realized she'd spent most of her life teaching children. Moving into the classroom just seemed like a logical progression.
How do you feel students benefit from being in a Learner-Active Classroom?
"I was in the audience at a major university when I heard the department head of physics utter the words that changed my view on teaching. ‘We don't teach here,' he said. ‘Students learn.'" Ginger realizes that teachers are the guides to point the way toward learning. She involves students in authentic learning tasks, to provide a context for instruction, and ensure that they take responsibility for their own learning.
Which of the ten principles is most important in your classroom and why?
Ginger sees Felt Need as the principle that is most important to her. Students write original text for wordless picture books, and plan to present their stories to kindergarten and first grade students at the local elementary school. To do so, they must master the art of writing dialogue—and the dreaded punctuation that goes with it! (rubric for picture book stories here)
How do you use various assessments in your classroom?
Ginger finds rubrics to be invaluable—for both the teacher and the student. Her students know what is expected of them, and have concrete guidelines to assess their work. Through guiding discussion, Ginger helps her students to zero in on their strengths and weaknesses. Stepping up the levels to receive an ‘expert' rating in a given area boosts their confidence and motivates them to strive for more.
What do you love most about your Learner-Active Classroom?
"Research and common sense point to the fact that learning is an active endeavor, not a passive one." Ginger creates environments where discovery happens every day in students' minds. She loves to lead her students to new places, through addressing high-order questions, making personal connections, and considering global perspectives.
"The trick is taking a child to a place she's never been before. You know she's arrived by the look on her face. It's in the eyes— an awareness that she is in an uncharted territory of her mind. That's the trick. The skill is taking her there again. . . and again. Sooner or later, she can find her way alone."
Files for Mock Trial Project: