Flipped classrooms are a hot topic. I discovered that a flipped classroom involves a learner-centered approach. It reverses, or flips, traditional teaching methods which is mostly the teacher talking about a topic at school and assigns homework that reinforces that day’s material. In a flipped classroom, the instruction is delivered online and outside of the classroom walls. In essence, a flipped classroom is one where students learn at home by watching a video or lecture and practice the skills taught at school. As I read more and more about flipping a classroom, I kept thinking about how this would work in kindergarten. I figured that I better search for some answers so I googled flipping a kindergarten classroom. I found a kindergarten teacher who flipped her classroom a few years ago. She spent the entire summer before school to research, plan and prepare for flipping her classroom. Wow! That sounded like a lot of work! I still couldn’t wrap my head around how this would work in my classroom.
I found some helpful links on Twitter #flipclass that I
shared on Pinterest. I am glad I found
this one because I wasn’t sure how to go about making a video and the important
things I should focus on in a video.
This is the link: http://flippedlearning.org/syndicated/how-to-make-great-videos-for-your-class-an-infographic/
This link http://flippedlearning.org/how_to/12-ways-create-flipped-blended-learning-content-no-9-lmscms/
was useful because it provided tools to use to make a video easily.
At the heart of the flipped classroom model is the desire to
have classrooms be more active and engaging and to give teachers more time to
interact directly with students in small group or individual settings. To me, kindergarten is already active and
engaging and interacting with small groups of students or individual students. I also felt that teaching a new skill or topic in kindergarten should be with the teacher in school. I could be wrong and I am not dead set against it so I watched a few lessons by kindergarten teachers, (which there aren't many out there!), and I tried one of my own.
Here is my stab at a lesson for kindergarten students in a flipped classroom:
I am sure if I did this more often, I would get better at it. When I think about this lesson, I feel like I would use it more as a review and to assign the homework of the Beginning Sounds Folder, not necessarily to introduce the topic.
So, flipping in kindergarten? I would definitely want to look into it more with other teachers who have done it and hopefully find more kindergarten teachers who have tried it out. What do you think? Is flipping the classroom beneficial to kindergarten students?
Here is my stab at a lesson for kindergarten students in a flipped classroom:
I am sure if I did this more often, I would get better at it. When I think about this lesson, I feel like I would use it more as a review and to assign the homework of the Beginning Sounds Folder, not necessarily to introduce the topic.
So, flipping in kindergarten? I would definitely want to look into it more with other teachers who have done it and hopefully find more kindergarten teachers who have tried it out. What do you think? Is flipping the classroom beneficial to kindergarten students?
Hi Susan,
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job - I can see how flipping in kindergarten can be difficult. I would agree - I am not sure that at the kindergarten level this something that should be done.
I have investigated the flipped classroom prior to taking this course and believe that it works well in certain higher level classes (i.e. science so there is more time for labs, etc...). Do you think that this method would be at all beneficial for lesson extensions (i.e. more work or information on the letter 'B') for remediation, etc...?
Gina,
DeleteThank you for the compliment on my video! I think it's kind of simple enough for little ones. My 3 year-old loves it. :) That's a good idea thinking of it as a way for remediation. I also thought that when we begin our science units of plants/animals and weather that I could use the flipped classroom for some of those activities. I could demonstrate for example how to plant a seed and the next day for the hands on lesson the students could apply that learning. Also, we make thermometers as an activity....I could demonstrate that and also reading a thermometer. So as I think about more ways and read more ways, I think there could be times that it would be useful for kindergarten, if not just another way to get content across or review content.
Sue
Hi Susan,
ReplyDeleteI loved your video! I think your little guys and girls would love watching you at home. I do see your concern with flipping Kindergarten. I agree that I probably would use it more as a review and not to introduce a new topic. There would definitely need to be a lot of parental involvement in order to pull it off. I even think that I would limit a flipped classroom in 6th grade. I think I could obviously do it more than you could, but would not make it my main means of teaching. I think high school would be a great place to try doing a whole course as a flipped class. Do you think you'll try this out now that you took a stab at it? What about even watching the video in school with your students to see how they respond?
Hi Mary,
DeleteYou're right! A lot of parent involvement would be needed. They certainly would need to be on board with it. The more I read about a flipped classroom and the more ideas I generate or read about the more I think that I might give it a try. I think I would definitely have the kiddos watch one or two first to get a feel for what they would be doing and how they respond. I agree though, I think they would love it!
Sue
Great job! I feel like the video and your description describe more of reinforcement using technology, not so much a traditional flip. I'm not sure what to suggest because of your age group, my experience is with middle and high schoolers. I agree that practice makes perfect. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAs I read more and more on the flipped classroom, I can see how kindergarten flipping would be good for review too but I've been thinking more about science lessons to do and then the students come in to apply their learning. I am tempted to try it out in the spring when we start our science units!
DeleteHi Susan,
ReplyDeleteI love the simplicity of your video. I think that flipping a classroom for any age group is really dependent on the ability of the teacher to make the videos quickly and easily. We already have an enormously time consuming job. To me, flipping the classroom honestly sounds like doubling our work, as we are actually teaching both inside and outside of the classroom. While it's true that many videos can be reused in subsequent years once they are created, most of us do not teach the exact same lessons, the same way each year. We would constantly be re-making videos, and if you change grades, you are really starting over. I do see the benefit of flipping, especially for review, remediation, and a way for those who've missed class to catch up, but I believe that the key is in the ability to make the videos very quickly, otherwise it is just not realistic. I loved your video, and I do think it would be beneficial for kinder, either as review, remediation, or homework. I love the idea of videos as homework for kinder. I think they'd love seeing their teacher when they are at home, plus, it will help them if they don't remember the lesson from earlier in the school day or whenever it was taught. Good job on this!
Michelle,
DeleteMy thoughts exactly!! As I was talking about flipping a classroom with my daughter, (in education as well), I kept saying that it seemed like so much work to make the videos to teach the lesson and then having to plan the application part of it and then some. Then having to get parents on board and a link for the students and then an alternate plan if someone doesn't have access to internet. I'm not dead set against it and I do see the benefits but I guess like anything else that is a change it will involve a lot of work and prep!
I agree with you, I think at the Kindergarten level it would need to be a review instead of an introduction. I could be wrong, but, I would think the first exposure you have to them learning letters should be in person. I know that when we introduce letters in K in my district, they have a card with the letter on it. They say the letter, associate a picture with the letter, then say the letter's sound with an action. This procedure would be great to have on video for parents to see how they are learning and practicing the letters.
ReplyDelete