This lesson emphasizes the importance of making mistakes, reflecting on them an having the persistence to try again. I really appreciated this emphasis as I think it is something that as educators we say all the time to children.
It rang very true that parents and peers often put pressure on a student to get things right the first time and teachers feel pressure to help children who ask for it instead of letting them struggle to work out a problem on their own. I had never thought of the idea that students and teachers might be in a contract that was potentially detrimental to student learning.
The number one thing I would like to make sure I have established is a community in which mistakes are allowed without negative feelings and even encouraged by peers as a way to help them think more deeply as individuals and as a group. As and educator I was thinking about how often I call on the children who raise their hand, how often I give enough time to think, or call on someone who isn't raising their hand.
I do feel extremely fortunate to work in a school were testing is not a priority and discussion, explanation of one's thinking and collective ideas is held in high regard. The ability to work with students on their skills without a need to give them a speed test or measure their worth by a standard score is very freeing.
No comments:
Post a Comment