Standing out, and why it is important to do so

I have never truly stood out in school, for the most part, I was just a follower that would just go with the flow.  That changed in the last two years when I began to dress better, not just sweats or athletic clothes every day, and I began to actually style my hair, and grow it out.  Within the last two weeks, I bleached my hair and plan to go either platinum blonde or silver this summer.  I have also grown a lifestyle, unlike most people I know, in order to be different and stand out, not just blend into this blur of normality most people find themselves in.  This mindset can be applied to school and classes in many ways, here are a few.

Stand Out!

Every class I've ever had that was different and stood out always seemed to be more fun, and I always learn better when having fun.  One example of this is my freshman English class, where in class we don't do worksheets but instead we analyze songs, poems, and write fun and interesting quick writes.  Out of class, we don't have orthodox homework but instead, we have websites we build and then run on our own with a group and everything we do ties back into the class.  I believe that everyone should have a class that stands out, you may not think we have done much in this class but we've written 8 in class essays on books we've read, 4 formal song analyses, 4 formal poem analyses, and 4 online writings.  To see all the work I've done and am continuing to do you can visit my personal website at www.dawsonunger.weebly.com

Have Fun!

My sixth and seventh-grade history classes were always my favorites, even though we took our notes, and did small little projects the teacher was one of the funniest people ever.  He would always play around with the students if they asked a silly question and would always just joke around with the students.  Though our notes may have been fairly boring we still had fun in the class for that reason, and I still remember most of what I learned in those two years.  It matters how a teacher teaches, but even if their style of teaching isn't great playing along with the students and allowing them to have fun in the classroom will create a much greater bond and the students learn much easier.

Diversity!

Every classroom needs diversity, whether it is with race, gender, class, or even just the kind of people in the class.  Having many different kinds of learners is a constant in the classroom, but having different styles of teaching in a single classroom is rare.  When you come to a classroom where the teacher will change how they teach occasionally is always amazing, because it also teaches the students how to learn in different formats, instead of the classic "write this and memorize it."  This style of teaching will fit every student's needs, but also change is intriguing so students are more likely to be interested in the newer styles, which creates more learning.


It is nearly impossible to avoid diversity on the student's side, but if you can create diversity as a teacher the classroom will be much more enjoyable for all.  Standing out as a teacher is rarely a bad thing, but 99 times out of 100 the class will become better, more fun, and a better learning experience for the students.  If the teachers stand out, have fun, and include diversity into their teachings, students can't help but be intrigued and learn.

Diversity in the Classroom | Center for Teaching and Learning. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2017.

assessments in the classroom and how to better them for the students

Assessments in school have always been so mediocre, and are either straight from the textbook or a teacher trying to trick you.  Many students I know have managed to play the "game" and easily ace tests but retain no information, I never could.  I always do well on tests where I apply what I'm learning and less just reiterating the textbook.  These are just a few different styles of assessment, specifically for English but not limited to the English classroom, that require the student to learn, apply, and help them later in life.

Oral presentation:

Oral presentations are scary for most students, but they will never become easy if you don't do them.  One of my favorite school presentations was earlier this year in my English class, where we had a choice to either write a rap, and perform it in class, or write an inspirational speech, then perform it.  We were all given a long time to write, and we could go in during lunch or study hall to practice and get critiqued on our performance.  I chose a rap, and it was one of my favorite school experiences, everyone in our class was very positive with each other, and it helped almost everybody's confidence in the class.

Creative writing:

Creative writing allows the student to let their imagination free, and use all forms of writing.  This can truly show a students writing ability and their progress throughout their writing career.  These could be in the form of quick writes. Essays where a prompt is answered and analyses of poems, songs, or any other form of literature.  For more on creative writing and implementing it in the classroom, view my earlier blog, http://btb-dawson.blogspot.com/2017/03/implementing-creative-writing-into.html

Teacher-made assessment:

Tests and quizzes made by the teacher is a great way to test the students on what is being learned, especially for grammar and any other subjects being learned.  It is important for the teacher to make it on what has truly been focused on in class, and not just something in fine text in the corner of a flip chart.  These will show that a student can apply what they are learning and if the assessment is made correctly it will help the student better understand how to apply the information.

Using different assessment forms in the classroom will not only allow the student to learn more, but will also intrigue them much more than the classic scantron test.  From the student’s perspective, these forms of assessment are not only the most helpful, but are much less dreadful, they even allow you to apply what is being learned, a key factor in any classroom.

"What Are Some Types of Assessment?" Edutopia. N.p., 15 July 2008. Web. 21 May 2017.