Student Feedback: Creating a "Parking" Lot in My Classroom

[Shelley Reichert]

Wishing to get more feedback from my students, I created an area on a wall in my classroom I call the "Parking Lot." It's a place where students can "park" their ideas, concerns, or questions about my language arts class. Here are some of the student responses from my 8th graders currently in the lot:

• Can we arrange our desks in a big circle?
• I dont' understand how to find an adverb when it's in between verbs.
• How many AR (accelerated reader) points do we need this quarter?
• I think we should read graphic novels for lit.

I then use this as a way to measure what concepts I need to reteach or just simply as a means to get ideas for class.

[Samir Fatani]

thank you for sharing your experience with us. I liked the idea. I think visual thinking and involving students in productive activities can provide a rich learning experience for the students. A visual approach to curriculum helps students focus on the key objectives of the subject.