Good+Learning+Experiences

=Good Learning, Good Students, Good Teachers Activities=

Purpose
A series of activities to solicit student's own ideas about good learning experiences, what it is to be a good student, and what makes for a good teacher. These are powerful activities for community- and relationship-building and building student ownership of our program.

Materials

 * Chart paper
 * markers
 * masking tape

Resources

 * Activity Summary on [|brainstorming]

The Process

 * Total time frame:** 1 Project Block

Step 1: Good Learning Experiences

 * 1) Say to students: "Think of a good learning experience. It can be in school or out of school, but think of a time when you had an 'ah-ha!' or when everything fell into place. Maybe you could finally do something you had been struggling with or something finally made sense. Maybe it was your English teacher who finally taught you how to write a good essay, or maybe it was when your grandfather taught you how to fly fish. So whether it was in school or out, think of a time that you had a really good learning experience."
 * 2) Give students a few minutes to share their stories in small groups.
 * 3) Ask them to jot down on scratch paper what it was that made it a good learning experience. What were the characteristics of the experience?
 * 4) After a few more minutes to share their lists with their neighbors, compile a class list on chart paper or on the overhead.
 * 5) Review the list with students when they are done generating ideas.

Step 2: Good Teacher List

 * 1) Once you've reviewed the list, ask students, "If this is our list of the characteristics of good learning experiences, what then would be our list of what makes a good teacher?"
 * 2) Record students' ideas on a fresh piece of chart paper labeled "Good Teachers."
 * 3) Review the list with students when they are done generating ideas.

Step 3: Good Student List

 * 1) Now ask students, "Now that we've generated these two lists, what would you say are the characteristics of a good student?"
 * 2) Record students' ideas on a fresh piece of chart paper labeled "Good Students."
 * 3) Review the list with students when they are done generating ideas.


 * Note**: leave these lists posted in the classroom throughout the year. Refer back to them every few weeks.

Articles Related To This Activity

 * [|Good learning experiences activity]
 * [|Good student/good teacher activity]