Buzz Words

There are a lot of buzz words in education.  We are inundated with buzz words.  We also become experts at explaining our classrooms using these buzz words, but in reality, all we are really doing is saying the buzz word and not applying the buzz words.

This happens a lot.  However, I don't blame educators.  We are thrown new theories every day, and it's hard to keep up, so instead, we just increase our "teacher" lexicon.

One buzz word in particular that has been thrown around a lot is "stations" or "learning centers".  I've sat in countless inservices explaining and creating different stations that get thrown out in the garbage by the end.  However, it's time to start applying some of these theories.

Through true collaboration, my 7th grade English counterpart and I have developed, designed, and constructed a differentiated, data-driven, intervention friendly, technology applied unit.  Phew.  That's some buzz-words for you!  We are anxious to get this unit into play as we have often talked about how this actually LOOKS in a classroom as opposed to simply discussing the theory.

As an educator, all I hope to see is theories in action.  It is our hope we can bring this one buzz word to life in the middle school English classroom.  Stay tuned for progress...

On the Eve of Genius Hour

We are about to take the leap of a genius.  Tomorrow, my students will be introduced to an opportunity that can change how education is perceived in their young minds.  I will be introducing the concept of Genius Hour after reading many positive articles, real life stories, and Twitter accounts about the never-ending positive effects of the implementation of Genius Hour or 20% Time in the classroom.  I am excited to start this journey.  This is why I became a teacher.  To see kids learn, and to see kids get EXCITED about their own learning.  Genius Hour will present them with this opportunity.

I was away at sixth grade camp last week.  Being outdoorsy has never been one of my strengths, but as I was standing on the edge of the stream watching students get excited about racing their own engineered boats out of Tinker Toys, I was again reminded of the innate curiosity of human beings.

Listening to conversations, I heard the 6th graders problem solve, collaborate, creative think.  Everything we hope for in our children.  They were curious and imaginative.  Yet, they generated hypotheses and tested, then modified.  Sounds like great educational jargon, right?  This is what it looked like:

How come when we educators are posed with tasks such as "have students generate and test hypotheses" we immediately feel bogged down with more content to cover?  We pull out our latest curriculum textbook that sings praises of its activities.  When in reality, our classroom still has rows of desks with freshly copied worksheets placed on each one.  It's time to spice things up.

I have been seeing the light more and more.  These sparks of light have inspired me and brought me back to life.  It doesn't have to be stressful.  Genius Hour provides this opportunity.  Letting students control their own learning.  Letting go of the reins for a little bit to see where they want to go with their learning. There is much I want to learn too.  I can't wait to go on this journey too (graphic design or sewing??  Or both??).

I'm going to end on a quick story.  Today I was with my husband's family for a baby shower.  My husband and I were playing on an old train set with his 4 year old cousin.  As I sat back and watched, I saw the young boy curiously follow my husband around while he was trying to figure out how to get it to work again.  I was given another spark of light.  The 4 year old boy who has only one day of preschool under his belt said the following while observing the non-working trains and trying to figure out which ones worked the last time he was over:

"This train has webs on it, so it can't be this one that works".

Problem solving.  At four years old.  We CAN bring it back to the classroom.  For me, Genius Hour is the answer.

The Question Remains

As we settle into the school year, and I am beginning to get my footing, I felt it was time to reflect.

We have been bombarded with changes in education.  Every educator feels they are in this tug of war battle of the never-ending question of:

Teach to the student OR Teach to the test

Can these happen together or will they always remain mutually exclusive?

It's what us educators have nightmares about.  I stand firmly in my belief that I must teach to the student.  Because the latter will produce scary results. What is my role as an educator of our future if I feel I should work to appease the big honcho State test makers?   What young 5th grade girl sitting in her room pretending to teach in front of her imaginary classroom really dreamed of giving practice standardized tests?

Yes, that 5th grade girl was me.  And I still have a binder full of lesson plans from my childhood, none of which included a practice OAA.  Yet, there were many lesson filled with discovery, creativity, and imagination.  From the mind of a 5th grade girl with dreams of becoming a teacher.

Now here I am.  Except roles are reversed.  I am that teacher, with those opportunities I hoped for.  I don't want my students going home at night dreaming of what school SHOULD be.  I want them going home at night inspired to continue their learning.

Yet, there is still that test that looms over me.

Loopholes.  There are always loopholes.  I can still have a classroom like this:

Engaged students, real learning.  And I truly believe that if students are engaged, inspired, curious, and imaginative, then they can ace any State-mandated test thrown their way.

However, if we choose the latter, and teach solely to the test, then we can't predict that those students will still succeed at the former...inspired to learn beyond the classroom walls.

In my opinion, the answer is easy...