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Teaching & Learning Best Practices Spotlight: Steve McConnell
Mar 3, 2014 8:57 AM
By Laura Hicks - FF/S
Steve McConnell is a third-grade teacher who has taught at Darlington since 2010. I work with him and his students on math and social studies several times each week.
Mr. McConnell makes it his mission to get to know each of his students at different levels, not just academically, but personally and socially, as well. It is not uncommon to see his students cheering on his Middle School basketball team at the Huffman Athletic Center. He realizes the importance of building rapport with his students, which shows the students that he actually cares about them.
As Mr. McConnell teaches math, he monitors students’ progress by checking answers as students show their work on individual dry erase boards. The students show him the commutative property of addition. As they need additional support, he revisits the lesson previously taught. Mr. McConnell redirects students as needed, while holding them accountable for their behavior. He clears up misunderstandings by re-teaching the concept using the different modalities of learning.
I have heard Mr. McConnell ask the students, “How do you learn best? Do you learn best when I explain a concept to you? Maybe you learn best when I show you how to solve math problems?” In the end, the students heard, saw and solved mathematical equations throughout the lesson. Students feel safe and confident in his class. Because of this, the students are more likely to take risks and "attempt" a challenging problem since they know Mr. McConnell will offer the support and encouragement needed to foster learning.
All children have a need to feel cared for and valued by a significant person in their world. I have heard it said many times that positive relationships with students is one of our most powerful tools in fostering a favorable learning environment. If our children respect us and feel that we genuinely care about them, they are oftentimes willing to go the extra mile, putting forth the extra effort. It is a joy working with Mr. McConnell and witnessing him in action!
Mr. McConnell makes it his mission to get to know each of his students at different levels, not just academically, but personally and socially, as well. It is not uncommon to see his students cheering on his Middle School basketball team at the Huffman Athletic Center. He realizes the importance of building rapport with his students, which shows the students that he actually cares about them.
As Mr. McConnell teaches math, he monitors students’ progress by checking answers as students show their work on individual dry erase boards. The students show him the commutative property of addition. As they need additional support, he revisits the lesson previously taught. Mr. McConnell redirects students as needed, while holding them accountable for their behavior. He clears up misunderstandings by re-teaching the concept using the different modalities of learning.
I have heard Mr. McConnell ask the students, “How do you learn best? Do you learn best when I explain a concept to you? Maybe you learn best when I show you how to solve math problems?” In the end, the students heard, saw and solved mathematical equations throughout the lesson. Students feel safe and confident in his class. Because of this, the students are more likely to take risks and "attempt" a challenging problem since they know Mr. McConnell will offer the support and encouragement needed to foster learning.
All children have a need to feel cared for and valued by a significant person in their world. I have heard it said many times that positive relationships with students is one of our most powerful tools in fostering a favorable learning environment. If our children respect us and feel that we genuinely care about them, they are oftentimes willing to go the extra mile, putting forth the extra effort. It is a joy working with Mr. McConnell and witnessing him in action!
