Crede Standards

I have always believed that one of the best ways to teach a child is to connect the information to their lives. Crede standard III discusses this. By using a student's experiences I can ensure that they have a better chance at understanding the material and being interested in it. In my class we are preparing for the upcoming state mandated writing test. I have been reviewing the rules of writing each day with my students. In order to find a subject that the students would be interested in writing in I decided to let them think of something they really wanted but their parents wouldn't allow them to have, for example cell phones or dating. Then using the Promethian board we wrote down the arguments that they have had with their parents over this. Once we had done this and talked about other arguments they could make the students began writing and for once I did not hear nearly as much grumbling or complaining. The assignment hasn't been turned in yet but I read the rough drafts that have been and they are some of the better papers the students have turned in this year.