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Contextual Learning at MTI. Martha Meyers Career Counselor, Adult Education. Contextual Writing in The Classroom. Real-Life Scenarios Not another 5-paragraph essay! Recognizing who is your audience, what is your purpose. Distinguish different writing for different purposes.
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Contextual Learning at MTI Martha MeyersCareer Counselor, Adult Education
Contextual Writing in The Classroom • Real-Life Scenarios • Not another 5-paragraph essay! • Recognizing who is your audience, what is your purpose. Distinguish different writing for different purposes. • Using appropriate language.
Contextual Writing in The Classroom • Students collectively determine what to write about. • Pre-writing it gets the job done. • Gathering supporting details and examples. • Writing to relate on real-life subject areas. • Coming together to debate and discuss. • WHAT do you think? WHY do you think it? HOW do you know?
Real life Scenarios Write a memo to describe a stores policy on time and attendance. Use an active voice to make certain everyone understands their responsibilities. Writing descriptive instructions on how to operate a cell phone, or program voice mail with a message. Give detail. Personal and work. Write a note to request an appointment with your supervisor to discuss safety concerns. Write a notice to address employee rumors about layoffs from your company. Emphasis on quelling rumors.
Contextual Writing: Student Feedback “This chart is now my rule for pre-writing. I have a tool where I can look at it from a more logical perspective. My essays come together nicely, and I don’t lose the reader in my writing.” - Catherine “I found this exercise to be fun and enjoyable, and it was more realistic. Bottom line - I got it; I understood. I learned.” - Donna
Contextual Writing: Student Feedback “The chart is a very good lesson. I wish it was in use when I was still in high school.” - Mary F. “I think it is a good tool to use for writing. It allows you to pre-plan your course for your writing. With this tool, I could quickly write a paper on any topic.” - Mary G.
Contextual Reading in the Classroom • Students select music/lyrics of their choice. • Relating new information to what is already familiar. • Demonstrating figurative language in a real-life context. • I don’t read poetry, but I do listen to music. • Students select and bring magazines, newspaper articles of their choice. • Pre-read the articles. Discuss the photos and captions. • Predict what questions the article may answer. • Relating an academic tool to real-life reading.
Contextual Reading: Student Feedback “I don’t really have enough words to express myself to you, for your talent and the way you taught me to improve my weakest subject, reading. -MacKendy “I enjoyed doing the TIPP? exercise because it was more cutting edge. The exercise gave me more visuals and more ideas to think more into the articles.” - Obel
Contextual Reading: Student Feedback “I think [the TIPP? Exercise] worked very well. I used it for my GED reading and finished ten minutes early. I am not a fast reader, so the TIPP? helped me” - Mary F. “I think this really helps because by doing the TIPP? it helps the student to speed up more on their reading.” - Grace
Contextual Math in the Classroom • Incorporation of Real-World Examples into Lecture • Determining price per ounce/pound using proportions. • Using ratios/rates to determine sports statistics. • Relating integers to budgeting process/balancing checkbooks. • Demonstrating use of percents when shopping. • Comparing price per square foot when looking at rental ads for housing.
Rigor - Relevance - Retention • Journaling: First 15 minutes of class spent writing on a subject of student’s choice • Rigor • Introducing new concept of daily writing. • Creating more rigorous writing habits and organizing thoughts.
Rigor - Relevance - Retention • Journaling: First 15 minutes of class spent writing on a subject of student’s choice • Relevance • Allowing students to write about academic and personal situations in their life. • Relating writing to real-life situations.
Rigor - Relevance - Retention • Journaling: First 15 minutes of class spent writing on a subject of student’s choice • Retention • Helping students clear their minds before the day’s lesson. • Resolving conflicts to allow for better focus and retention.
Contextual Learning with Different Populations • Addressing various phonetic challenges facing speakers of different languages (i.e. V sound for Spanish speakers, L sound for Chinese speakers) • Focusing on the different ways math is represented in various countries (i.e. comma vs. decimal, format for division) Math terminology. • Addressing generational gap in technological knowledge. • Adjusting younger students to a non-digital learning environment