What Do You Want? – Teacher’s Corner

January 29, 2024 7:01 pm

Teacher’s Corner

The following are writing prompts and discussion topics you can use to help students think about asking for what they need and want.

When you are asked questions like what you want to do at recess, what you want to have for lunch, what homework you want to work on first, or where do you want to sit how often do you give answers like I don’t know, what do you want, or whatever?
Think about why you do not know? Do you really not know or are you afraid to say what you want or need? You might be afraid you won’t get what you ask for and that will be very disappointing. You might be concerned that a friend will not like your answer and that will affect your friendship. Whatever your reason, you will for sure not get what you need or want unless you ask for it. People cannot read your mind.
Make a promise to yourself that when asked the next question about what you need or want, you will answer it directly (and politely), even if you are worried about what response you may get back in return.

Teachers, you can use this blog in classrooms. Here are two ideas about how.

For middle or high school parenting or child development courses:

Use the blog for discussion topics
Require students to research the topics and agree or disagree with what the blog is suggesting.

For all courses, especially English Language Arts:

Use the blog for writing prompts for paragraphs, theme papers, journal entries, class starters, etc. Have students read the blog and respond to:

Do you agree with what is being said about kids? Do kids really act, think or feel that way?

Do you agree with what is being said about parents, grandparents, teachers and child caregivers? Do or should they act, think or feel that way?

What would be your advice on this topic?

What was left out of this article?

If you were a parent, would you use any of this information? How?

Why can this blog be a useful teaching tool?

Students that see connections between their coursework and their lives do better in school.

Most students will either be parents one day or have children in their lives that they care about, so the topical information can help them build their knowledge about children and parenting and develop a positive image of the type of parenting they want to do.

The new core literacy standards adopted by most states call for frequent writing in all courses.

Newly developed end-of-course assessments to be used by many states will require that students demonstrate that they can think critically. These prompts help students practice critical thinking.

Newly developed end-of-course assessments to be used by many states will require that students demonstrate that they can analyze what they read. These prompts help students practice analysis.

Posted by Dr. Mom's Team

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