Leveraging Student Voice
My classroom is constantly full of student voice. As a culturally relevant teacher, I leverage student voice to make learning reciprocal between teacher and student. My students are containers of knowledge overflowing with thoughts, experiences, knowledge that they can contribute to the classroom to drive learning for everyone. I function as a bridge connecting students' responses to classroom content, helping students make concrete personal connections. Leverage student voice allows my students to develop understanding as they listen to their classmates and apply their knowledge as they share their own experiences.
Debate
Debates are a fun and engaging for students to apply content knowledge and practice their oratory skills.
Please click this link to see a video of the debate
https://www.torshtalent.com/video/JzY6wGpM6sfRafQbr
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This is an annotation of the video. In the video, my 6th-grade students are engaging in their first debate. They are debating a potential ban on energy drinks for children. They conducted research to determine how energy drinks affect the body, formed their opinion, and created an argument supported by data. The debate allowed my students to develop an understanding and apply their knowledge of the body.
This artifact is two student work samples for our second debate in 7th-grade science. The debate centered around lab-created diamonds and artificial diamonds. I created the organizer to help students gather their thoughts and prepare for a debate. Students used a database of approved articles to conduct their research and gather their evidence. Students developed their understanding of diamonds while conducting research and apply their understanding during the debate.
Presentations
Presentations give me the opportunity to take a step back in my classroom and listen to my students. Students assume the role of an expert on a topic and share their knowledge with the class. Presentation help students develop understanding of a topic as they conduct research for their presentation. Students apply that information as they present that topic to the class.
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Please click this link to see a student presentation
https://www.torshtalent.com/video/Tz8QjNiJYMSrnLnjZ
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This my annotation to the video. Each group was assigned a different part of the body and conducted research to see how DNA was used to solve crimes. In this video, my students' presentation is about blood cells. All of the groups presented sharing their knowledge with the class developing their understanding of various types of cells and DNA while practicing their oratory skills.
This artifact is two student work samples for a stem cell presentation my 6th-grade science students had during our cells chapter. The presentation developed my students understanding of the functions of cells. My students used computers to conduct research about stem cells, they gathered the main ideas from the research on their paper. Students presented their stem cell speech to the class applying the knowledge they learned during their research.
Discussion
Discussions are one of my favorite instructional activities because the learning is driven by my students. Students develop their understanding by conducting research and listening to their classmates. Students apply their knowledge and demonstrate their understanding in a discussion by responding to their classmates.
Please click this link to see my students engage in a discussion.
https://www.torshtalent.com/video/eiJmTgCyi529CstwJ
In this video, my students are engaging in a debate about race. They are sharing very personal experiences while connecting it to our genetics chapter. To facilitate the conversation I utilize a talking piece to help the students track who is speaking. Students are experts at communicating with one another which is what makes discussions so powerful because the content is presented in a way that all students can develop an understanding.
Mitosis Rap
In this video, my students crafted raps/songs/ or a poem about mitosis. A large population of students at Imhotep is musicians, this activity allowed them to showcase their strengths and learn about mitosis. For some students, it was challenging to write a rap but the activity was fun and engaging. My students thoroughly enjoyed watching each other perform their rap, watching multiple performances further developed my students understanding. This activity was culturally relevant, allowed my students to use their voice, helped them develop and apply their understanding of mitosis.
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Please click this link to see my students' mitosis rap.
https://www.torshtalent.com/video/abXdXcxkmXHkMF7hQ
In this video 10th-grade biology students are creating their mitosis raps. Students are using technology and their textbooks to synthesis information about mitosis to use in their rap. As they gather information they are developing their understanding of mitosis. They demonstrated their knowledge of mitosis in their rap and again on their chapter assessment.