Success! RCTS in Action
Certified Partner Corner
Can Research-Based Creative Teaching Strategies be implemented in a high-poverty, inner city high school? As trainers for RCTS in central Kentucky, we say the answer is yes. A recent observation in a high school co-taught classroom confirmed our affirmation.
In October, as part of a co-teaching partnership, we were observing an Arts and Humanities high school class. It was the last period of the day and the class contained a diverse group of students, including those with special learning and behavioral needs. One of the teachers had attended RCTS training during the summer.
The 90-minute lesson consisted of an opener, an energizer, small group activities with designated leaders, an energizer, and a closing. The class started with a series of very short movie clips with students in small groups discussing the use of dialogue. Next, guided notes (students filled in the blanks) were used with the lesson content that the teacher provided using a PowerPoint presentation. There were two different sets of guided notes, some with more support than others, to address different levels of learners.
Students worked in small groups to produce a script for a short story or fairy tale which incorporated all the content from the guided notes. A timer projected on a screen counted down the time to complete the task. Every three minutes a slide was shown that contained a description of what should be accomplished in order to finish the task in the allotted 30 minute timeframe. A stretch break (energizer) to stand, turn to a partner, and name the three elements of drama was used at the 15 minute mark. After that, two small groups joined together to share and celebrate their finished products.
The closing was to watch a clip of an adventure movie and come up with a two line script. These were given to the teachers as an “exit slip.”
Here was proof that students with a wide range of abilities and needs could be successful in the same classroom! When we praised the teachers for their collaborative, engaging lesson, they responded, “We are using the strategies we learned from the RCTS workshop. They really work!”
Submitted by Certified Partners Marti Ginter and Karen King, Central Ky. Special Ed Co-Op
For more information regarding Research-Based Creative Teaching Strategies please contact Tina Altman at taltman@bobpikegroup.com.
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