How Students Learn

Teachers may work towards creating a diverse learning environment, but what is of utmost importance is that educators find what works best for not only students as individuals, but students as a group. Mrs. Tilley and the other teachers at LSHS have created a happy medium that benefits their students greatly.

Mrs. Tilley's English 10 classes can be a hand full, but what I've noticed is that since she changed up their routines on a daily basis, they maintain focus and interest. For the past couple weeks we have been reading Julius Caesar, and by allowing group, silent, and whole-class reading, students do not complain of always having to do one thing. If they prove themselves capable of working with partners that day, Mrs. Tilley gives them the opportunity to do so. If not, then they work silently.

Analyzing Antony's speech from Julius Caesar was a helpful lesson for every student in English 10. Yesterday we read the scene as a class, and I stopped at important parts to explain what was going on and to give students a chance to ask questions. Today Mrs. Tilley had the kids break down the speech in regards to persuasive and ironic tactics. After Mrs. Tilley gave a mini-lesson on what exactly irony was and how it is positively influential in persuasive speeches and essays, students went through the entire speech and marked every example of irony. Students were given the chance to prove the significance of irony by giving specific examples, thus better understanding the play.

I am impressed with the methods that Lake Stevens High School faculty uses, and have seen many great techniques that work well both in theory and in practice!