Madeline Hunter's The Mastery of Teaching offers four techniques that make material meaningful, but I'd like to focus on the technique that I've personally seen to be extremely effective in the classroom: providing a function. "Providing a real function for the material to be learned also builds rationale and meaning for the student".
My girl, Maddy, couldn't be more accurate. One of the most rewarding learning experiences I've had the pleasure of witnessing was watching a 10th grade journalism class create their school's first ever newspaper. What began as a lesson on non-fiction writing eventually turned into a project that spanned two classes, a collaboration across all curriculums, and evolved the learning process from extrinsic to intrinsic all the while nurturing team work, empowerment, and helping students find an individual voice as they filled the roles of the editor-in-chief, section editors, and the many journalists that supplied the rich material for the creative endeavor.
Honestly, this group of students hardly realized that they were learning the mechanics of journalistic writing such as AP style, form, research, and proper citation. "The human brain learns almost effortlessly when there is a sensible reason to learn" (Hunter), and this 10th grade class, without a doubt, effortlessly put together a sensational school newspaper. I think I even saw a spark or two in some eyes as they realized their calling in life.
To read Hunter's three other techniques on making content meaningful, I highly recommend picking up her insightful book. Happy reading!
(Note: I get absolutely no kickbacks from the sale of Ms. Hunter's book...unfortunately).
It truly is remarkable when you get cross-curricular instruction. Everyone benefits!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to point out that the author of this book is Robin Hunter (male).
ReplyDeleteRobin Hunter is currently the principal of Santa Susana Elementary School in Simi Valley, California. He has served as a teacher in a variety of grade levels, as Coordinator of Professional Development for the Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, and has conducted courses in teacher effectiveness for school districts and universities throughout the United States and Canada. Over the course of his career, he has worked closely with Madeline Hunter, both in her publications and in her role as a trainer of teachers and administrators