Synopsis of the Article One: When Every Educator in a Middle School Shadows a Student for a Day

This article offers a comprehensive discussion of a transformative experience that will inform the trainers about their approaching to teaching. The author Phyllis Fagell stresses the fact that educators have incorporated various things regarding students to their teaching approaches. The author provides an example of a student challenge conducted in Sheridans middle school, and involved an empathy-building experience to trail students for the entire day and have their activities monitored. Through this way, teachers could be able to incorporate the aspects and information gathered into their teaching approaches, based on the fact that different students could demonstrate their unique qualities. Jay Briar, being one of the teachers believe that they see students in their moments as well as off minutes. In this way, they can observe some introspective tendencies that will enable their educators to take different approaches with them. This can help the student in various class activities such as during class discussion and therefore contribute towards their academic success.

Such an experience is an eye-opener. Through the challenge, teachers were able to notice the manner in which they children could improve their pairing abilities and so socialization. Students become easygoers and stay on task. In this way, therefore, teachers will be able to plan able better with the aim of reflecting the school's commitment to keeping the children active. As part of the challenge, Ellen Hughes who is also an eighth-grade teacher believes in the incorporation of more movement, particularly in the class blocks. Other approaches involve enhancing communication among teachers with the aim of preventing students from slipping through the cracks. According to Hughes, the students experiences in their social world is important. She participated in the students challenge and noticed many hidden aspects that could be integrated into the teaching approaches of any educator. For instance, the child she trailed as the part of the challenge often complained that his peers criticised him. However, Hughes noticed that this was not the case as other children always tried to include him during socialization. In order to help the boy, therefore, she plans to partner with the school counselor and work on boys ability to consider alternative perspectives. Finally, the article also reveals the educator's experiences with the valuable insights into groups dynamics as well as the students emotional wellbeing. In fact, Hughes observed the students who seemed adrift at lunch and those who lacked confidence in PE. The profound students conversation regarding academic stress gained a newfound appreciation for the manner in which students felt they made mistakes. Hughes would, therefore, integrate this information.

Synopsis Article Two: Flipping the Social Studies Classroom

This article offers an excellent exposition of flipped teaching, which is a mechanism through which a vibrant classroom can be created in addition to enhancing students learning. This process requires a complete lower level of cognitive work outside the classroom and more emphasis on application, analysis, evaluation, and creation of the in-class. Flipping through the classroom is a good example of differentiating plans. Through this way, students get the opportunities to have their assignments done at home through the generated lectures or videos. In the article, the author compressively reveals the significance of flipping classrooms. Firstly, it provides the learners with the opportunity to learn. Based on the fact that the classes are lecture-based, students are taught to take the guided notes. The review of the contents and taking notes at home gives students time to formulate questions they may have about regarding the materials, lectures and the videos. However, some students write faster than others, and therefore this aspect constitutes to its disadvantage. Secondly, flipping in classrooms helps incorporate technology as part of the learning activities. Notably, the students will be able to research historical events such as the Great depression, the World Wars or even the Vietnam Wars through collecting the information from the books, internet, and the family interviews. They may also prepare presentations and share their works through iBook or other smartphones.

Lastly, the challenges associated with the flipped teaching are also revealed in the article. Incorporation of flipped instruction in the classroom is not an easy task. Teachers are always forced to look for time meant to create videos for the students to view at home. It would ensure a significant enrichment of the activities for the students during class time. Conceivably, the educators must ensure that all students have suitable access to computer and internet systems. They can achieve this through creating computer times for the students who require it before the school. Finally, it requires a considerable time and effort because students are engaged in various activities such as reviewing the class videos, lectures, and assignments.

References

Dugan, M. (2017). Flipping the Social Studies Classroom: More reasons you should consider flipping your classroom. Association for Middle Level Education

Fagell. P. (2017): When Every Educator in a Middle School Shadows a Student for a Day: A transformative experience that will inform your approach to teaching. Association for Middle Level Education