Students Taking Ownership of Their Learning

Firsties completely engaged in weather research.

For as long as I can remember I always told my students it was my job to make them independent learners. I wanted my students to leave my first grade classroom knowing how to set goals, ask questions, and find the answers to those questions.  Above all, I wanted them to leave with a general love for always wanting to know more. I implemented these three things in my classroom that made tremendous impact on my students: The Daily 5, setting academic goals, and research projects. 

Now researchers call this philosophy, "students taking ownership of their learning."   Research shows increased academic progress in those students who set learning goals, have an interest in what they are learning, and have choices as to how/what they learn. It's never too late to start creating independent learners! Start slow. Start now. Start with one thing. Watch your students blossom.  It will change your world as a teacher. I promise.

Suggestions on how to create independent learners: 

1. Find a book, blog article or research article about students owning their learning. Within that book or article, find one new idea choose to implement in your classroom. I've listed a few links below to get you started:

Books

Leaders of Their Own Learning by Ron Berger

Learning that Lasts by Ron Berger

The Daily 5: Fostering Literacy in the Elementary Grades

I may make a very small amount of money if you purchase from an Amazon link.

Blogs

4 Ways to Let Kids Take Ownership of Their Learning

Beyond Engagement

7 Things That Happen When Students Own Their Learning

Articles

Student Ownership

2.  Take a look at your current instruction. Are you already implementing strategies to create independent learners? Can you tweak something easily and make it student centered?

3. Conference with your students individually. Use goal sheets to guide the discussion. An easy goal to begin with is an Accelerated Reader goal with a focus on engaged time reading or points or STAR goal with a focus on Percentile Ranking or Grade Equivalency. Create your own goal sheet or save time with a goal sheet that has already been created. If you need a quick and easy goal sheet you can download my Goal Setting Sheets, print and start setting goals with your students. A digital version is also included.

4. Student Data Notebooks:  Create notebooks or folders so that students can track their own data.  I found a free simple reading and math data notebook for early elementary on TPT.  You can download it here.

5. Research Projects:  My students LOVED research projects. Yes, my firsties became quite the researchers!  At times they would collaborate and at other times they worked independently. Sometimes I assigned what they would research and other times they were given choices.  I always checked out books about the subject from the school library and had them available in the classroom. Kid friendly search engines are another plus when doing a research project. Think about units you are already teaching. How can you add a research component to these units?  I have several research projects that I created for my classroom and offer in my TPT store. One of the absolute favorites is my Research Tourist project.  My daughter-in-law just used it with her third graders last month and they had a blast! See the pictures below of the finished product.  You can purchase Research Project Washington D.C. today and be ready to start the project tomorrow.

Created by First Graders

Created by Third Graders

I have also bundled all of my Research projects into one product. You can purchase the bundle HERE. Make sure you FOLLOW ME on TPT so you are notified when I upload a new product.  ALL new products are discounted 50% the first 24 hours.

I promise if you teach your students how to take ownership of their learning you will see growth like never before.  Take baby steps and ease into the pool of independent learning! 

Much Love,

Rebecca Wrenn

January Theme Teaching

 When I was in the classroom, January was always the beginning of theme teaching that carried over into February and March.  I LOVE theme teaching and my students were always engaged in our activities.  You can tie in so many standards in a unit and get your firsties researching too! Below are some of my favorite theme units for January. They can be printed and sent home to your remote learners.  I still believe that these students need tangible learning where they use scissors, glue, pencils, crayons, etc.  Create packets periodically and have parents drive thru to pick up.

Martin Luther King Jr. 

First graders need to understand segregation and how it effected so many people, both adults and children. Martin Luther King Jr.'s story is one of faith, courage, and hope that can help children understand the civil rights movement. I used the lap book unit below to teach my firsties about Dr. King.

Purchase the unit HERE.

Penguins

Another favorite of my firsties in January were PENGUINS.  Who doesn't love a penguin? I created an Emperor Penguin Family Scrapbook for my firsties to work through.  It's an 11 day unit with a teacher plan included. It can be printed and sent home to your remote learners.  I still believe that these students need tangible learning where they use scissors, glue, pencils, crayons, etc.  Create packets periodically and have parents drive thru to pick up. 

Purchase the unit HERE.

Tackylocks, Tacky the Penguin

One of the last theme units I taught in January was my Tackylocks book study. It is a fun unit to teach after your penguin unit.  I have carefully created a unit tied to several common core reading standards. I want all of my units to focus on academics alongside the creative piece of the craft. This is such a fun story! I know your firsties will love it!  If you need the book, Tackylocks and the Three Bears, you can purchase it HERE on Amazon. 

Your firsties will love making this craft of Tackylocks.  Purchase the whole unit HERE.