This is an activity that I gave to students who were learning about the shape and structure of DNA. Students first learned about the structure and shape and then were given examples on paper. They were then given materials to work with and try to create the DNA structure.

This activity relates to IPTS standard 4N which states that the competent teacher "engages students in and monitors individual and group-learning activities that help them develop the motivation to learn."

I learned and fully believe that activities that are engaging and hands-on will always be what help students to learn the best. Students will be able to grasp a deeper understanding of the material when they can experience it for themselves. They will be able to have more fun in the classroom, therefore increasing their overall motivation to learn. Students should love coming into the classroom every day, excited for what they will get to learn about.

Students at one school I was able to teach at had desks that we could use dry-erase markers on. I loved to have students do their practice problems for math on their desks. It provided students with a big workspace of their own while I was able to walk around the room and observe/assess them as they worked. They were able to work individually or in groups at this location. Students enjoyed using their desks for work. It gave them another method to learn at their desks other than just pencil and paper too.

This connects to IPTS standard 4M which states that the competent teacher "organizes, allocates, and manages time, materials, technology, and physical space to provide active and equitable engagement of students in productive learning activities."

I learned how to use as much of the physical space I am given as much as I possibly can. There were so many activities we could have just done on paper or on little whiteboards, but the students had this resource in the classroom so we definitely used it. It was a great way to organize student's work so that I could see exactly what each student was working on as well. I learned that this is a great way to be able to formally assess students as I walk around the room because their work is right in front of the one working on it and it is written fairly big for me to easily see. I will definitely utilize dry-erase work a lot in my future classroom if the physical space allows for it.