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Looking back, this was one of my favorite experiences, and writing this annotation reminded me of not only how fun it was, but how much the students learned. I believe that students learn the most when they don’t realize they are learning because of what a great time they are having, and this was one of those times. They were thinking hard and exploring answers because they wanted to. They were motivated. This made me realize that these types of projects, that allow students to have a hands-on experience and be thinking critically to problem solve simultaneously is so beneficial to every type of learner. I now know that I will use a function machine in my classroom. I definitely would use it over the course of an entire unit instead of just introducing it for one day. I also know the importance of incorporating these critical thinking questions as the students are working to foster their new way of thinking algebraically.
This lesson plan is evidence of the kind of instruction I try to implement as much as possible in all subject areas. I agree that it is very important for students to learn specific skills and information. But, I also believe now, as a result of doing these types of lessons with my 2nd grade class, that being able to think critically is the most crucial gift you can give your students. I have seen so many teachers who spoon-feed their students information. If you ask these particular students a question, they can regurgitate the gobs of knowledge that their teacher told them and they retained, but asking them something that involves them to think critically? Forget about it. I have shown by this evidence that I provide my students with the opportunity to think critically to analyze a word problem in order to solve it. As stated earlier, each student must show me his/her work, and be able to explain to me (in words) what they did in order to reach their answer. Even if a student has a correct answer with no written work or explanation of how they obtained it, I tell them it’s considered a wrong answer. An important fact I have learned about critical thinking is that it’s not always about getting that one right answer; it’s about all that stuff in between that you go through to find it.
My third evidence is a lesson plan that was part of my TWS. Throughout this lesson plan, and the other ones implemented for this project, I truly learned the importance of teaching my students these types of critical thinking skills. Not only is it crucial to solve different types of problems in the classroom, but it is essential for our daily lives. We use our critical thinking skills every single day, more than we realize. It is necessary that these students are being taught what they are, and how to use them. Also, I know the importance of not just developing these skills, but helping them grow. This lesson plan, along with my entire unit project, was not about picking out a correct answer from a book and having that prove that they understood the material. I was looking more for HOW they got to their answers. This is why I provided several types of various methods (such as oral discussions, hands-on activities, journal writing, etc.) for practicing and assessing my students’ critical thinking skills as opposed to standard pencil/paper tests to measure growth and comprehension.
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