Passive Classrooms
In passive classrooms, teachers do most or all of the thinking. Students often just sit there in the classroom like a piece of furniture. Teachers do all of the lecturing, if you're lucky students will copy a few notes in their unorganized notebooks. Teachers often teach using taught algorithms that students need to memorize. Unfortunately these algorithms are without meaning to the students. Teachers assign some practice problems and students try to do the homework and have no idea how to do it. The motivated students will seek help from their parents who often just go through the same algorithm with their student step by step. The more unmotivated students will not do the homework. The teacher then silently labels the student as lazy, and doesn't focus on them as much. A PASSIVE classroom is LECTURES.
Active Classrooms
In active classrooms, the students do most or all of the teaching. The teacher's time becomes that of a moderator and mentor. Students are given tasks where they are meant to discover the math, and perhaps even discover the algorithm. When students discover mathematics, the math has meaning and students will retain a lot better. Teachers guide the thinking of the students to help them make connections. Students are in charge of their learning and own the material. An ACTIVE classroom is QUESTIONS.
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Save these tips and ideas to your favorite classroom Pinterest board. Come back and reference them for ideas on how to activate your middle school math classroom.
