the scramble, and the teaching of "rocks"
ok, two topics in one...but they relate, so in my head, it makes sense.
first off, the scramble...in the city in NC where i teach there is a specific rate of instruction we (as teachers) have to follow so that the kids are prepared for the state end of course test (which, like the NY regents exam, is used to determine if the student has passed the class). now, standardized tests are a topic for another day (i'll have to pull out my soap box, and that is just a pain in the butt since i am exhausted right now) but what i really struggle with is being able to teach the material at a rate that is following their guidelines and i can still at least take the time to make sure the kids understand what we are reviewing. i feel like what i do is hurt the kids more than help them, rushing them through materials at a pace that is more than they can actually handle. it just isn't fair to my rocks....
yes, that is right, i have rocks...(rock is my term of endearment for the kids who just don't get- or care to get- a damn thing i teach) ... if we are going to be technical, i have a class of 13 of them. now it has yet to be determined if they are all rocks, or if some are just dragged down by the rest of them. i really don't know what to do, if i teach them at the pace that is prescribed by the people i work for they are screwed because they will learn nothing. if i teach them at the pace they need to be taught at, they are screwed because they will not have all the material that is on the end of course test.
yea, in the end it will all be my fault.
posted by Miss H @ 4:55 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
I've never been a teacher but one of my favorite teachers from long ago always split people into groups.
He judged the groups on grades. Let's say you take your group of 13 students. 5 are A-B students, and the rest are C-F students.
Put them into one group of six and the other a group seven. Then put two of the A students with one group and the other three A students with the other group.
Then give them different group projects. Let the students try to teach each other with your help.
This actually worked while I was in school but I'm not sure how much help it will be for you.
From what I remember we only had final exams for the class not a state end of course test. (Which these might be the same, I'm not sure.)
interesting thought. though before i turn them loose like that i would need to balance my students among all six of the classes that i teach. sadly there is too much dispairity.
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