Teaching in the Margins

In my future classroom, I want my students to be excited to show up and hear what we will be doing that day. But how do I do that? How do I get them to be excited to come to class every single day? This is where teaching in the margins comes into play. Don’t know what teaching in the margins means?

Here’s an interesting TED talk that may help explain it:

What does this video have to do with Teaching in the Margins?

• When he talked about “the life of a typical class paper,” he ended it with “no one cares.”
  • This is so true. The paper didn’t benefit the student nor the professor.
• “Maybe it’s time for me to go out on a limb by doing something different.”
• “This needed to be something where the student would be able to contribute something meaningful… to the world as a whole.”
• Had his students take the information they were given, and create something out of it themselves.

When I initially heard the term “teaching within the margins,” I immediately thought of a piece of lined notebook paper. The curriculum that is expected to be taught is written on the lined paper, like normal. But normally people don’t write in the margins of the paper, and that is where we want to go!

What are some ways to teach within the margins?

• Come up with a lesson that has to do with recent events in the news (even if it has to be made up an hour before classes)
  • Ex. Come up with a lesson that has to do with a natural disaster that is happening in the country at the time (especially if you notice that your students are interested in it)
• Have students come up with a lesson on the topic being covered
• Include inquiry based learning in the classroom
  • Embrace the organized chaos!
• Think of topics that are stretched a little beyond the standards/curriculum given

Here is an example of teaching in the margins from Instagram:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kristin (@teaching_outside_the_box)

What makes this Instagram post an example of teaching in the margins?

• Has to do with recent events
  • Relevant to the students
• Keeps students interested
• Helps prep for an exam by competing with each other
  • Breaking out of normal study routines
• It is unique and took effort from the teacher to come up with

Teaching in the Margins vs. Teachable moments

Don't be afraid to think outside of the box. Get your students to want to come to class every day. Get out of the norm. Dive into those margins! #welcometothemargins #scienceteaching #EDT431 #NSTA @AnnMacKenzie

— Miss Welsh (@MissWelsh3) September 19, 2018