As teachers, we like control and order. Constructivist ideas contradict everything we love about control and order. But I am so ready to implement these ideas, that I almost wish school started next week (again I say almost - I'm not ready to go back to work just yet) . I can envision this going on in a classroom and I am excited by what I see. I think the thing to remember with letting go is that the students don't just walk in the classroom and have a task on the board and start working with no instruction. The purpose of the pre-task is to get the students prepared for the task. This includes getting them thinking mathematically, thinking about the current topic, assessing what they already know, making sure they have the tools/knowledge base to begin the task. But letting go also means that the teacher uses questions and student response to make it happen - not doing a problem and the students mimicking the teacher on the independent problem. The teacher should not release the students to begin the task if the students are not ready. This will cause more confusion and chaos and lead to unnecessary frustration.
What we really need to let go of is the idea that students can't come up with a solution without first being told how to do the problem. If we will let go of this idea, I believe the rest will come a lot easier. We will be willing to let students take control of their learning.
3 comments:
I would like to comment on control and order. I have learned that the only thing I can control is me and my actions. That is it. I see our roll of teacher as a facilitator of understanding. Putting the lesson plans together and letting the students struggle. I do think the teacher needs to share information to get things started but the students are the ones in control of their understanding not the teacher. We need to challenge the students so the students want to achieve an understanding. Letting go will be a hard thing to do but we must do it.
I completely agree with you. I think people would be surprised what students come up with when left to their own devices. I truly believe that the way math (and any subject) evolves is by having fresh, uninhibited minds working on topics. I worry a little day to day but I hope we are right.
I feel the same way. I want to put the new constructivist approach to use immediately. I am also excited and can not wait to see the results. I look forward to a better teaching experience this upcoming year and I think we all are.
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