Learning to Lead: 3 Ways 较低的学校 Girls Use Their Voice
It begins to form the moment girls walk into the 较低的学校 for their first day as an Ellis student. It is practiced every time they share a story about their experiences in the classroom and at home. It 成长s through constant use, encouragement, and collaboration. What else could it be but student voice?
Building individual expression is a crucial part of the 较低的学校 experience. In order to give girls the skills they need to articulate their thoughts, 意见, and point of view in an impactful way, the foundation is laid in pre-kindergarten through grade 4. Teachers intentionally provide the tools and space necessary for students to practice sharing their 意见, 的想法, 和观点. 那么他们是怎么做到的呢? We've outlined three dynamic ways Ellis teachers prompt students to use their voice below.
1. Think-Pair-Share
1. Think-Pair-Share
“Why do you think it’s a good idea to learn a second language?” Brenda Martinez, 较低的学校 Spanish Teacher, asked her students. “Think about it, then turn to your compañera and share your 的想法.” After a few thoughtful moments of silence to deliberate their answer, students turned to their partners and discussed their 的想法. “It’s helpful when traveling,” one girl said. “I want to take Spanish in high school,” another chimed in.
This collaborative learning technique employed in Ms. Martinez’s classroom is happening all over the 较低的学校 as teachers utilize the Think-Pair-Share (TPS) approach. Designed to boost interpersonal skills between classmates, TPS teaches students how to think, 过程, 回复, and share information in an engaging way. Girls know they can’t let their minds wander during class, because they have to be prepared to share with their neighbors. Gone are the days of only students who raise their hands having the chance to express their 的想法—instead, by incorporating collaborative learning techniques, the entire class raises their voices.
2. 类中
2. 类中
What do the women’s suffrage movement, ocean habitats, and Mr. Rogers have in common? They’re all topics that have been brought to life in 较低的学校 class plays! Integrated into the curriculum for students beginning in kindergarten, class plays give girls the opportunity to literally and figuratively use their voices. Through this performance and project-based learning, girls engage with content at a deeper level as they learn about the concept in social studies, sing about it in music class, and move along to choreography in dance class. From pitching 的想法 for the script to performing in front of their families and friends, participation in these productions offers a unique way for students to present and articulate their learning.
3. 较低的学校 Assemblies
3. 较低的学校 Assemblies
Starting as early as pre-kindergarten, students are encouraged to voice their perspectives and have 意见 about the world around them. One instance of this occurs on Friday mornings when 较低的学校 students meet in the auditorium for their weekly assembly. During this designated time, the ordinary turns to extraordinary as over a hundred girls and their teachers gather in one space to learn, 成长, and share their school experiences with one another.
“Whether students spend that time celebrating birthdays, 听故事, sharing 的想法 and knowledge, 或唱歌, they are 成长ing in their understanding of who they are and what is important to them,安·马蒂诺说, 低年级校长, on 较低的学校 assemblies. “Students learn how to present information—each grade is thinking in advance about what they want to share with the group. They’re preparing and practicing what they want to say, and how. All of this contributes to an understanding of having courage, how to be self-assured, and how to connect with those listening to you. We’re teaching girls that their voices are a gift they can—and should—share with others.”
