ACTIVITIES
NOTE: Below is one of the activites from my latest book, "Generating Standards-Based Lessons" (Pieces of Learning Publishing, 2007) used to determine teaching style in the classroom. After completing the activity, teachers can begin to determine their own teaching style as it relates to the Age of Standards. This activity allows teachers to take a new look at current teaching styles and degrees of differentiation in the classroom. This activity is also useful to allow building or grade level teachers to begin a conversation about teaching styles and best practices in the classroom.
Best Regards,
John Lester
Please email me at lesterohio@gmail.com if you have questions.
Chapter 1
Teaching In The Age of Standards
Getting To Know My Teaching Style
Directions: Read each statement in the list below. Place a dot on the line under the degree to which you adhere to the statement when you teach. Upon completion connect the dots with a line that creates a graph that shows your current teaching style. By studying the graph you can see areas where you may want to change your current teaching style or strengthen it with new techniques.
WHEN I TEACH . . . Never Seldom GENERALLY Often Always
1. My teaching is based on learning needs of ___________________________________________
students, as well as, standards.
2. I use various instructional formats including ___________________________________________
whole group and small group instruction.
3. I allow students to choose activities based on ___________________________________________
readiness, need and interest.
4. I use a variety of instructional strategies each ___________________________________________
day.
5. I use pre-assessment strategies to diagnose or ___________________________________________
determine need for lessons.
6. Students complete different activities based on ___________________________________________
need.
7. I group students based on learning needs. ___________________________________________
8. The pace of instruction varies based on the ___________________________________________
learning needs of the student.
9. I have learning goals for each student. ___________________________________________
10. I use learning tools based on student need ___________________________________________
and ability.
11. I provide enrichment by asking students to use ___________________________________________
creativity and higher level thinking skills.
12. I re-teach a concept by using different ___________________________________________
instructional strategies.
13. I use ongoing assessment to check learning ___________________________________________
throughout instruction.
14. I use a variety of methods to assess learning. ___________________________________________
15. I provide feedback to students following each ___________________________________________
lesson.
