Most folks I know would profess to trying to create a student centered classroom.\u00a0 I try to\u00a0 do my\u00a0 best to have the work emerge from the ideas, passions, and dreams of our students.\u00a0\u00a0 And I’ve tried to be a part of a team that allows a school to build on this idea.<\/p>\n
The beginning of the year is the hardest time for this model.\u00a0 Unlike the rest of the year, you do a lot of talking.\u00a0 You’re trying to build a culture, a community, that will support students as their own ideas take shape.\u00a0 The community has to be safe enough to take risks but not so comfortable that kids can’t challenge each other.\u00a0\u00a0 You’re trying to quickly pass ownership of the classroom and the work onto the students, to move yourself from facilitator to coach.\u00a0\u00a0 It’s real work.<\/p>\n
But man, doing it after four-day weekends, three-day weekends, six-day weekends is hard, hard work.\u00a0 I knew today would be difficult and urged any of my peers who came near me to forgive themselves as much of what would make today tough had nothing to do with them.\u00a0 For students to take full ownership over the work, they have to know what they’re accepting and have an understanding of what the work is.\u00a0 That’s next to impossible to do within a fragmented calendar.\u00a0\u00a0 We’ll get there but it’s going to take some time.<\/p>\n
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Most folks I know would profess to trying to create a student centered classroom.\u00a0 I try to\u00a0 do my\u00a0 best to have the work emerge from the ideas, passions, and dreams of our students.\u00a0\u00a0 And I’ve tried to be a part of a team that allows a school to build on this idea. The beginning … Continue reading Student centered<\/span>