As a special ed teacher in a resource room, I often had students for a 45 minute period. I always had about four different activities prepared, and my question was usually, "Which one will we do first?" We usually didn't get to the last one on the list, but that was OK because I'd include one that was clearly difficult and might not even pertain to the lesson topic. The kids would think they had outsmarted me by spending all the time on the other three.
08:50 “And that just made his class that much more fun even though I had no clue what was going on.” And there lies the problem with “fun.” Sure admin can walk in and see the students having fun, but if asked, “So Sara what did you learn?” “I dunno, but I had fun.” That’s why classroom fun is a very tight rope to walk.
I think that half the battle is tricking kids into learning within the guise of "fun." My students may not be able to articulate what they learned, but when it comes time to apply that information, they do pretty well!
Yes, but there is now an unprecedented level of belligerence, apathy and insubordination prevalent in the classroom that needs to be breached before applying any teaching method.
The main thing is teachers learn to 'talk' great deal of the day with excess to students. Teachers learn quickly the more they can stretch out the lecture... The more of the day is filled. Teachers rarely care if students are actually actively listening and comprehending. Its a trick teachers learn to help the day go by. And yes its better if teachers talk less. But, then its back on the teacher to fill the gaps of time. Talking is cheap, easy and can be done on the fly.
As a special ed teacher in a resource room, I often had students for a 45 minute period. I always had about four different activities prepared, and my question was usually, "Which one will we do first?" We usually didn't get to the last one on the list, but that was OK because I'd include one that was clearly difficult and might not even pertain to the lesson topic. The kids would think they had outsmarted me by spending all the time on the other three.
08:50 “And that just made his class that much more fun even though I had no clue what was going on.”
And there lies the problem with “fun.” Sure admin can walk in and see the students having fun, but if asked, “So Sara what did you learn?”
“I dunno, but I had fun.” That’s why classroom fun is a very tight rope to walk.
I think that half the battle is tricking kids into learning within the guise of "fun." My students may not be able to articulate what they learned, but when it comes time to apply that information, they do pretty well!
Good advice.
Glad you think so!
Yes, but there is now an unprecedented level of belligerence, apathy and insubordination prevalent in the classroom that needs to be breached before applying any teaching method.
An amazing video
Thanks!
Amazingly full of it! So to teach teachers how to engage students without all the talking, you just do a lot of dull talking?
The main thing is teachers learn to 'talk' great deal of the day with excess to students. Teachers learn quickly the more they can stretch out the lecture... The more of the day is filled. Teachers rarely care if students are actually actively listening and comprehending. Its a trick teachers learn to help the day go by. And yes its better if teachers talk less. But, then its back on the teacher to fill the gaps of time. Talking is cheap, easy and can be done on the fly.
Not true at all.