Sunday, December 5, 2010
Wk 2-Reading CH. 4-6
As with a musical conductor, teachers are not all knowing and never wrong. Teachers also need to be able to admit mistakes to their students. This makes them appear more human if you will. Also students feel more comfortable and willing to learn when they have a teacher who guides not leads. Students should be given the lead in the classroom to make them feel a part of the class. Peers sometimes learn better from each other and by working as a group rather than the teacher doing nothing but lecture. When you let yourself be questioned, you yourself learn how to improve. So let loose once in awhile and turn the baton over to your students. You never know what you might learn yourself.
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I agree that teachers are not all knowing. I make sure my students are aware of this on a regular basis. A lot of students expect teachers to be all knowing and not admit to mistakes. It really can change the classroom environment when both students and teachers can learn from mistakes together. It is truly an amazing thing.
ReplyDeleteCherie,
ReplyDeleteYour comment "Students should be given the lead in the classroom to make them feel a part of the class." is so true. It has been my experience where if students are allowed to make or have decisions about what goes on in class the sense of ownership has then been established. Engaging students and allowing them to make decisions gives them a sense of empowerment. This sense of empowerment along with the opportunity to prove that they can maintain a sense of higher level thinking and achievement is what students at times strive for. This chapter made for a great read and really found a connection to your comments.
Ricardo Mireles
Keyboard failure – press any key to continue. (Microsoft error message.)
ReplyDeleteGreat point Cherie! My AR project involves classroom technology integration. While working with students and teachers, I noticed that the teachers that weren’t afraid of making mistakes or asking students for assistance actually used the technology more often and improved their competency much quicker than the other group. Along with being helpful to teachers, students were more relaxed and more willing to participate.
I've always preferred treating my students as equals. It's a delicate balanace when working with children or teens, but it's worth letting them know that you remember what it's like to be on the other end and that your objective is to see them succeed. It makes all the difference in the world.
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