36 Children by Herbert Kohl

1
36 Children by Herbert Kohl

• Presented by Jennifer Bertolini, Loriann
  Bespalko, Doris Jenkins, and Mary Beth Verba

2
Objective

• Group One Participants will demonstrate the
  knowledge of differentiated instruction by
  sharing with a partner.
• Group Two Participants will demonstrate the
  knowledge of the role of the student as a teacher
  by making an idea map.

3
THINK!

• Mr. Kohls Class
• How did you feel?
• important?
• loved?
• intelligent?
• What did you like?

• Other Teachers Class
• How did you feel?
• insignificant?
• hated?
• silly or stupid?
• What didnt you like?

What type of teacher do YOU want to be?
4
Mr. Kohl Knew His Students

• Mr. Kohl took time and effort to learn the likes
  and dislikes of his students. This helped him to
  captivate and engage them.
• He let his students decide what they wanted to
  do during breaks. They were able to read or write
  books and magazines, play checkers, chess, or
  jacks, and perform science experiments.

5
Mr. Kohl Motivated His Students

• Mr. Kohl motivated his students to pass the
  standardized tests that they had previously
  failed.
• He told them that they had done badly.
• He told them that he believed that they could
  perform better.
• He helped them to believe in themselves.

6
Mr. Kohl Answered Questions

• Many of the thirty-six children were curious to
  know more about the world and more about the
  English language.
• Mr. Kohl taught them new and different words,
  including their meaning and their background.
• Mr. Kohl recognized that his students were
  interested in this topic.
• Mr. Kohl elaborated by bringing in books that
  elaborated on the background of the words.
• Mr. Kohl taught his students Greek and Roman
  myths.
• Because the students were engaged, he had them
  write their own myths.

7
Mr. Kohl Ran a Democracy

• Mr. Kohls classroom was democratic.
• Students were able to participate in the
  activities that they chose.
• Each student learned and was taught differently.
  Lessons did not come from books.

8
Reflect and Conclude

• How would you feel as one of Mr. Kohls students?
• What did you like about Mr. Kohls teaching
  method?
• Would you do anything differently?

9
Think Back

• Remember when you were a student of Mr. Kohls
  or another teacher in Harlem at the beginning of
  the lesson?
• How did you feel?
• How would you feel as part of the other class?
• Write down your thoughts and share with your
  group.

10
Students as Teachers

• Students chose their own activities. Mr. Kohl did
  not dictate who must go where or do what.
• Students wrote their own myths to share with and
  teach to the class.
• Students created a student magazine called And
  to share with the rest of the school.

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And

• Students were permitted to express themselves in
  this magazine any way they chose. For example
• Violent and gruesome illustrations
• Honest and brutal accounts of an inner-city
  neighborhood
• When the other teachers and the administration
  displayed contempt of such violent and brutal
  expressions, Mr. Kohl permitted his students to
  continue publishing the magazine, but did not
  share with the rest of the school.

12
Democracy

• Students learned in a democratic environment
  where they and their opinion mattered and they
  were permitted to make choices.
• Students developed a sense of independence.
• Students developed a special bond to Mr. Kohl.

13
Students Taught Mr. Kohl

• Mr. Kohl let himself learn from his students.
• He often observed their activities and their
  interactions.
• He learned about their brutal neighborhood
  through their unlimited expressions in artwork
  and creative writing.

14
Reflect and Conclude

• Do you think that letting the students act their
  own teacher helps them?
• How?
• Would you do anything differently?

15
Conclusion

• Mr. Kohl was important to his students.
• His students were important to him.
• What could have happened to these Harlem children
  if Mr. Kohl never entered their lives?
• Mr. Kohl kept in contact with many of his
  students.
• Both Mr. Kohl and his students experienced
  personal growth due to their interaction with
  each other.
• Mr. Kohl accepted the students that later did not
  succeed as he wished they would have in life as
  well as the students who did.
• Do you want to make a difference in your
  students lives?
• How has Mr. Kohl influenced you?