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  • 1.  Podcast Discussion - Promoting Equity in Critical Thinking Skills (S2E4)

    Teachstone Staff
    Posted 10-28-2021 13:42
    Hello everyone,

    Today we released another Teaching with CLASS Episode, Promoting Equity in Critical Thinking Skills! This episode features a wonderful conversation centered around STEM, Instructional Support, and Equity. It also includes some fun activities to engage with your students for Halloween! What are your thoughts and key takeaway from the episode?

    I really loved how our amazing guest, Dr. Lourdes Norman-McKay, talked about how women and underrepresented groups often hold back in fear of making mistakes. As a Biology major and science lover who always intended to go into a career in the medical field, this really stuck with me. I remember this fear of perfection holding me back so many times throughout my schooling. Can you also relate to this, or do you recognize this hesitancy in students you teach?

    I also loved the Halloween activity that was shared! Lourdes' idea around this curiosity box included items such as Pumpkin guts, egg yolks, Jello, Marbles in dish soap, etc. Have your students stick their hands into the box, without being able to see the items and describe how it feels. Ask questions such as "do you like it or not like how it feels? Why do you or don't you like the way it feels?" By using just their sense of just touch, what can they explore and learn?  What conclusion can they come to?
    Have them make a guess and ask them about the traits that made them come to this conclusion. "How do you know it's pumpkin guts?"
    Then have the next student try and ask them if they agree or disagree with the previous student who felt these items? What can they add to the description given by the other students? 
    Something Lourdes said that stuck with me is "You aren't trying to expedite an answer, you are trying to shape a process in a human being" At this early age, you want to bolster not only the process but confidence in their abilities. By exploring how to come to these hypotheses and prompting these thought processes, you're shaping the way they solve future problems!
    Can you think of any other ideas for these types of curiosity boxes for Halloween? 

    How can we encourage children to respect everyone's viewpoint in the classroom? So many amazing ideas were shared, do you have any to add? One I really liked was to be sure to let them know that there isn't just one answer to a question, encourage them to take risks! Their curiosity, confidence, and ability to express their ideas are skills they will need in order to be successful in their lives and future careers. 
    In what other ways can we encourage children to respect all viewpoints in the classroom?

    I can't wait to hear what you thought of this episode and what you plan to try after listening!

    Best,
    Allison


    #STEM #IS #InstructionalSupport #QF #QualityofFeedback #Equity #Science #Halloween #Classroom_Activities





    Actionable tips to try from this episode:

    • Ask more questions, give fewer answers
    • Increase questions on how children know things rather than on what they know
    • Focus on learning by experiencing and doing
    • See mistakes as opportunities

     

    Learn more about promoting equity in critical thinking skills:


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    Allison Bloomfield
    Charlottesville VA
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  • 2.  RE: Podcast Discussion - Promoting Equity in Critical Thinking Skills (S2E4)

    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
    Posted 10-29-2021 09:12
    This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

    I think using spaghetti noodles would be a fun idea for the Halloween creativity box. You could even use some sort of oil or something to make them slimy like worms.


  • 3.  RE: Podcast Discussion - Promoting Equity in Critical Thinking Skills (S2E4)

    Posted 10-29-2021 16:25

    Hi everyone, I think Halloween is a big ideal for kids, it is not only for the candy also for the costumes. In our class we can talk about why is my favorite  person, animal or thing, what happens if you don't  have  a costume. We can celebrate too. Or why I don't like and they can still our friends.

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    Viviana Botero
    Beaverton OR
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  • 4.  RE: Podcast Discussion - Promoting Equity in Critical Thinking Skills (S2E4)

    Teachstone Staff
    Posted 08-05-2022 16:36
      |   view attached
    Here is a downloadable resource containing tips from this episode! Print it off and keep it handy for a quick refresher. 

    Best,
    Allison


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    Allison Bloomfield
    Charlottesville VA
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