Question for Certified Teachers...?

Question

Is posting my lesson objectives in a first grade classroom effective especially since my students can't read them?

Answer 1

Post it - it provides your observer / supervisor with information when they come into to observe you - in particular if they are doing a walkthrough they will see the objective and you doing and activity toward it - thus it will reduce the amount of time you may lose explaining to them / more time to focus on instruction.  

Answer 2

Before doing a lesson, you should explain and tell them why they are doing it, but I don't see any reason to post it on the board. Most teachers have a lesson plan book they can show a principal or parent but I have never seen lesson plans or objectives on the board.  

Answer 3

Because of No Child Left Behind schools are so conscious of the STANDARDS. It is the policy of many schools and school districts that require teachers to post the objective / standard on the board or somewhere before teaching the lesson.  So the question is, does it make sense...

A principal explained it to me like this...  It is important for children to learn academic language.  This is a language not heard at home or on the playground.  Academic vocabulary is learned over time and it should start young.  You post the standard / objective and read it to the class.  Then as time goes on, the kids pick up on that language.  The idea is to let kids be the sponges that they are.

Answer 4

I'm a first grade teacher.  I think it is a good idea to post the lesson objectives.  The kids may not read them right now, but some will read them later in the year. Their parents will be able to read them as they come by and will have a better idea of what you're covering in class.  You should be stating your objectives as well.  

Answer 5

I teach kindergarten and I post my learning targets on the whiteboard for my students everyday.  We go over them at the beginning of the day to get them prepared for the learning and to give them an idea about what we will cover that day.  I also refer back to them throughout the day.

I try to phrase them with high-frequency words so that the kids can read them (to some extent) and supplement with pictures.  

For example:

I can tell the beginning, middle and end of a story (okay not my best example but it has been several weeks, right?)

The idea is to front load the information for your students and set the stage for the learning.  It is also a helpful reminder for me and helps keep me on track with my daily agenda.  

Answer 6

I don't think it's necessary. I think it's more important for you to communicate your objectives to your students in a way that is kid-oriented. They need to know what they are expected to learn.

But it is pointless to physically post a wordy objective.  

Answer 7

If you are able to put them in kid language then yes or at least tell them what the objective is and why it is important for them to learn.

I also post vocabulary for the kiddos - it is an excellent way for them to have yet more access to language to and to integrate the subjects.  

Answer 8

Posting them where? Online?

Sure it's helpful for their parents and your colleague teachers...

Your students may not be able to read your lesson objectives, but it's still important for you to discuss them with them in simple words so that your teaching is more effective. They need to know "why" they are doing this activity when doing it in order to enhance learning.

Answer 9

I think posting the objective is stupid.  But it scores points with my boss so I have to do it.  Remember, if there's something in education you don't like, just wait a little while.  It will change.  Ideas in ed don't last long.  To be good in education, you need to learn how to BS the paperwork and teach your students the way you think is best.