I've enjoyed learning about Dr. Tharp's CREDE standards. First let me explain... CREDE stands for Center for Research on Education, Diversity & Excellence (http://crede.berkeley.edu/) Their 5 theories are important to any classroom, but highly effective for classrooms with English language students. The theories are:
1.Teacher and students working together
2.Developing literacy and language skills across the curriculum
3.Connecting school to students' lives
4.Engaging students with challenging lessons
5.Emphasizing dialogue over lecture
I feel that I am working on all these theories with all my students. I think that I am implementing many of these theories within my classroom. When working on a lesson, I listen to the students and the questions they are asking. This leads the discussions and much of the information that follows. When they get excited about a topic within our unit I try to foster that inquisitiveness. We spend time finding answers for the questions students are interested in.
There is soooo much information to cover in our curriculum. I try to create word walls, and word collectors for students to cope with all the vocabulary we encounter. I need to find more ways of collecting and connecting the words to students. It should be important to students for them to fully understand and use the words.
One of my favorite activities that I use often is to share with neighbors. Whenever there is a point in the lesson that students start to "check out" or are disengaged I have them share or answer a question with their shoulder partner or face partner. It helps to have them check their understanding and to refocus on the lesson. Other times I will have them stand up, hand up, and pair up a few times. Each time they pair up they have to answer a question. Sometimes the questions are fun and about the students. Other times it is an academic question to extend their learning. I randomly call on students to answer the question they just talked about, or to share what their partner talked about. I think that in this way it helps all students to get their thoughts out and then to have to "present" their information. It keeps them accountable because no one knows who will have to share and what.
