Friday, July 13, 2007
The Future...
I really buy into the whole student-centered concept, but there is one thing that is troubling me. What happens to students the next year? What I mean is, when they spend a whole year in my classroom constructing their knowledge through student-centered task, and then the next year they are placed in a room where the teacher doesn’t use this, what happens? This is not going to stop me from accepting the challenge, but I have wondered that. What if the teacher doesn’t allow the students to use their methods to solve problems and counts off on tests because they don’t solve the problems the teacher’s way? Also, if I push beyond the curriculum, is that teacher going to refuse to push further and only do what the standard says, causing students to repeat the same curriculum and become bored? Does this really work when only a handful of teachers are on board?
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4 comments:
I tell you what Heather if you can become half as good at questioning your students as you are at raising questions here you will be hugely successful with this method. :-) You made some really good points, I have wondered that too. My only answer is that Dr.M says all the kids (teachers) are doing it so I would hope the transition will be smoother than anticipated. Perhaps you will have grounds to raise these questions at your school if you see it as a problem the year after yours.
That is a very good question. Here is what I think. As a profession I think we have to get to the point where we see each other as a true professional community like how I am hoping this cohort becomes. Currently I don't think it is like that right now.
But a more practical answer is that you try to give the teacher after you as much of a "heads up" and "hints" for the following year. As well as you learn from the teacher before the year of students you will receive.
I have wondered the same thing. I have to agree with Dr. Matthews, the GA Performance Standards are conducive to this methodology. I read this constructivist method in the standards and right now this constructivist method is requiring a lot of work. This method will get easier the more we do it.
I understand your comments fully, but I think we can not concern ourselves with what another teacher does in their classroom. The only thing in our control is our classroom teaching and learning. Therefore I think the method that will be most effective for the students is our only concern and the teacher that has to teach the students next year will have to figure whats best for them.
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