Use the class discussion not as a place to
present ideas you have been sure about all along, but as a place to try out
your newly-forming ideas, counting on help from the other members of the class
in asking you questions and thoughts that will help you keep thinking about it.
this summer I supervised a summer school program in which students took online classes for credit. they were enrolled in a whole range of courses--from geometry to earth science to world history. the problem was that many of them needed one on one assistance and could not sit through an online tutorial and learn. I am a science teacher and my knowledge of other subjects is limited, but I couldn't just let these students wallow in the dim glow of their virtual classrooms for 3 weeks straight. anyway, student by student, I went around and we figured out together which postulates proved congruent angles, and what the significance of the Cuban missile crisis was by working together using available resources and a little bit of original thought. Point is, when you are involved in the learning process and not just a passive member of a virtual (or real life) classroom, the process is much more exciting. YOu can follow leads, you can choose a path that makes sense to you, you can bounce ideas of others, and you can arrive at a more satisfying conclusion than if someone had simply told you the answer.
ReplyDeleteBecause I went into that summer school classroom with as little familiarity with the subject matter as the kids (and in most cases, less), it was a real struggle as I tried to help them find their way. But struggling through a concept makes the learning more enjoyable. You think you have a grasp of it and suddenly it slips away. You think you are sure of something and then as you probe deeper, you realize you've been thinking about it the wrong way all along.
Participating in discussions is an excellent way to take stock of your thoughts, work through problems, and when you are surrounded by people with similar learning goals, to reveal avenues of thinking that had previously gone unnoticed.
I really enjoyed being involved in the summer school program this summer, because I think I learned just as much as(or more than) the kids. I look forward to working with/debating/helping and learning from you all this fall. See you tomorrow. GK
Your summer school experience sounds a lot like my everyday classroom! I agree it is much more exciting when you are involved in the learning, but I find myself getting frustrated at times too. Looking forward to catching up with everyone tomorrow!
Deletefrustrated, meaning you feel like you're putting in more effort than your students?
DeleteAs I enter my 8th year of teaching I feel hard-pressed to define many ideas in education that I have been "sure about all along". With every new class I take, new student I meet, and new initiative presented by the school or state I feel that my philosophies and ideas adapt to meet the new standards/expectations placed upon teachers. With all of these new and constant changes I look forward to meeting with everyone and discussing new thoughts and ideas.
ReplyDeleteFor this reason (as well as some others) I really love the cohort design for this program. At this point in the program I feel as though I can speak freely about my ideas without worrying about being judged by the group. I know that some things I say might piss people off, get people thinking about something new, frustrate people, or be supported by others, but the point is that I now feel comfortable to say how I feel in class discussions. I look forward to being challenged (and supported) by all of you this semester!
This is a quote that puts me in my place. Mathematicians consistently build on what they know in order to explore new things. In other words, we start with things that we have been "sure about all along" and then use them as tools to learn new things. I find myself applying this same way of thinking in conversations with other teachers about teaching and learning and it can be counterproductive. This quote by Eleanor Duckworth motivates me to approach this course with a clean slate.... or it motivates me to at least try.
ReplyDeleteI do my best to teach high school mathematics but I am surrounded by teachers that say they are teaching mathematics but what they are truly emphasizing is nonsense masked as content. When I strive to learn something, I may find it difficult, and to overcome difficulties, I may resort to some bizarre tactics that work for me. However, when I am teaching, I don't pretend the bizarre tactics are the content I intend to teach.
This will be my seventh year as a high school teacher and the first day of the year this year without students was by far the worst I have ever experienced. I sincerely hope that we can discuss some more realistic practices and idealistic goals about working with high school kids this semester because the way I was treated on the first day of school this year was embarrassing and deflating and I need a "pick me up." .
but mr. tilton, all students passed the math MCAS this year. bizarre tactics and all. that's all that matters right? (I'm a jerk)
Deleteyou are a jerk. MCAS is on its last leg... we are looking forward to a more difficult test soon....
DeleteThis quote reminds me of all the difficulties we have as teachers.
ReplyDeleteAs the summer was ending, I started reflecting on how much less I was dreading this year compared to last year. I was having nightmares last year. This year I barely got nervous. Coming back yesterday felt like old hat. There was such a large disparity between last August and this one!
I tell this story because I do believe I've been able to take risks in my classes at RIC and not be nervous that I'll be fired or made fun of for my mistakes or rambling or naivete. We have a special group of people in this co-hort. I've gotten so much out of our venting sessions!
In conclusion, I was rather anxious entering school last year and I was able to push myself pretty far. I wonder how much I'll be able to accomplish this year when in a relatively more comfortable state?
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