Preparing for Martin Luther King Day

As I returned from Christmas break, my mind is pondering about our school's annual MLK Celebration.  It's a time when I try to make Dr. King's message relate to my student's life in a meaningful way.  To get my students understand, in a world so full of hated and yelling, that Dr. King's message is POWERFUL today.

To help me remember Dr. King's message I have been listening to his Methodist Student Leadership Conference Address.  Unlike his I Have A Dream speech, this speech is more lengthy.  So, I've been listening to it on my lunch breaks and on my prep.  Yes, more than once.

In this speech Dr King explains the success of the non-violence movement and the power of love. He explains why as a society we must care of each other.

Also, this speech addresses why I am a teacher (maybe you too).  Why it is important to help ALL my students succeed.  Why public education is so important to our society.  Finally, if you listen carefully to this speech, we can hear the whispers of the I Have A Dream Speech and his Mountain Top speech in this speech.

As a fellow educator, I know how busy your day is and how you have so much to accomplish...But take a few minutes and listen to this speech. MLK's Methodist Student Leadership Conference Address

Also, if you are looking for some engaging MLK Day lessons, check out the Social Studies Super Store.  Here is one lesson you might want to review.  MLK Lesson

Do you love exit tickets? I do!

I love exit tickets!

Why?  There are quick a way and easy way to check for understanding from my students.  And, then I can reteach the concept, idea as way to review the next day.  This helps to make lessons seamless! So here are a few methods to use this formative assessment.

#1- Simply have the students write their answers on a sheet of paper.  Then with a two minutes remaining have them share their thoughts or ideas with a partner.  As the students walk out the door, collect their answers. 

#2 - Twitter ticket:  Students answer the exit ticket prompt in 140 characters or less.

#3 - Simply simile:  Use a simile to have students demonstrate what they learned you learned today.   If students are struggling I might give an example such as "Imperialism is like an octopus; it causes a nation to be stretch out its' arms and power all over the world."

#4 - Just have them talk.  Have them explain it to their partner what they learned or what they are confused about.  Not all exit tickets need to be formal, sometimes simply have students share their ideas, frustrations, or confusions is great!  While students are talking, I roam around the room listening to their responses.  I do not interpret to correct them if I hear any incorrect information. Why not?  A) I want to see if their partner will correct them.  B)  This gives me an opportunity to review the exercise with the students the next day and review the information.

#5 - Rank it!  I start every lesson with learning targets, so for the student's exit ticket, they will rank what they believed was the most important learning target.  Number one is the highest, and number ten the lowest. Then, the students create a short answer question based upon the highest ranked learning target.  Sometimes the students create some very good questions!
 
Finally, the best part of the exit ticket is the next day.  Reviewing the information with the class.  Getting a quick understanding of their learning, then linking the new lesson with the previous lesson.