you are the teacher and at the beginning of the year, you had a really great idea for an activity for your students: it was meaningful, it integrated the content that you wanted to present and you felt so proud of your idea, you LOVED this activity, it was brilliant!......But then, it came to give the assignment and it just didn't fit anymore. You reflect on the students and their needs, you think about your conceptual framework and you consider all of the experiences the students have had so far and you decide that this great activity just wasn't meant to be. How do you feel about that? What do you do -- do you plunge forward and give the assignment anyway? OR Do you put it aside?
Well, this is exactly what has happened to us: We developed this really great idea for an experience (the "What If Strategies") and now we realize that it just doesn't fit. We have chosen to set it aside for now and for tomorrow, you simply need to show up at 12:30 p.m. How do you feel about that? How would you feel if you were the teacher?
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If you really like the idea and think it is important, maybe it could fit in later. I don't think that an idea has to be put aside and never used. There could be a time later that it could be useful.
ReplyDeleteIt may be possible to adapt the idea to fit the current curriculum and the direction the course has taken. It may also be possible to use the structure of the activity to fit a new idea. It could be possible that it will work better at a later time.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be a little frustrating as a teacher to develop this new activity and then realize that it doesn't work with the class. I think you would have to keep an open mind to the activity and try to work it in again at a different time.
ReplyDeleteIt is imperative to maintain student's interests. If a lesson, although well thought out and planned, does not suit the students than you may find continuing on with the lesson may be detrimental to their learning and understanding of the concept being taught. I personally feel that if the teacher knows that it would be better to not continue with the lesson plan, or in otherwords, having second thoughts on implementing it, than they should stick with their gut instinct as the teacher of those students.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it would be depressing if I had thought of a great plan but felt that I was not able to introduce it to my students, knowing that it was better not to just yet, or at all. But we all know that life takes unexpected turns and although it may seem like wasted time and/or creativity, it ultimately makes you a better teacher, better preparing and implementing the correct plans that will benefit your students.
I would put the activity aside. Although you worked really hard on the project, it could still be used another time. If students are given an activity that doesn't fit with their interests, experiences, and needs students may feel bored with the activity or that it is not meaningful. Maybe instead of getting rid of the whole activity modifications could be made so that it fits in better with students' needs and intersts. It is more important to consider how the activity is going to benefit the students rather than how it will inconvenience the teacher.
ReplyDeleteWell, it would be very frustrating as a teacher to be so excited about something and to know it doesn't work right now. I wouldn't force it to work. If I was really that excited about something though I would try and adapt it to fit into my curriculum of what was going on. I would defenitly keep it around and hope to use it in following years. As far as this particular assignment not working out, I'm glad as a student. We didn't discuss it in class last week and I don't like feeling unsure about assignments going on. It makes me anxious and stressed to have the slightest bit of confusion about something. I like clear instructions, examples, and to be able to ask questions and get clarification (in person, not online).
ReplyDeleteI love having great activities. I think I would just stash it away to another day when it fit or when i can change it to fit the context of another day. i wouldn't worry about it. Things never work perfect and as a teacher i would have to get use to it anyway. Worrying never helped anyone...I think even passing the idea on to someone who can use it makes you feel better. At least you had the great idea an the first place, that is something to be proud of.
ReplyDeleteWrite it down so you don't forget it. I like to stock up on "ammunition" so when it does fit I have it ready to use. But as for the class where it doesn't fit, don't use it. Everything we teach has to be meaningful. If you cannot find a use of your lesson for the kids it is a waste of their time and your own. :)
ReplyDeleteps. and yes I just got back home from going to class at 830 to be reminded that no class today until 12:30. (thanks Graham :D)
At first you could put it aside but don't forget about it. I know that when I work really hard on something and then there is not time or reason to use it I get bummed. Save it for a rainy day activity if you don't think it is going to fit anywhere else in your curriculum. Change up the class a bit and throw it out there when things need a little bit of spicing up.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this. There were many times in Literacy that I had some ideas that I really thought were great and the student would really love. Sometimes they worked and sometimes they didn't. I feel your ideas should never just be thrown out. It seems like such a waste to me. You can always adjust the activity to fit the needs of your students. This is something we will be doing a lot of so we should really get used to it and always save our great ideas.
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ReplyDeleteIt would be frustrating. I wouldn't throw the activity out the window. I'd set it aside for a later date. With the limited amount of time we have to teach, every moment counts and every lesson needs to be as meaningful as possible. Just because this activity doesn't fit your students now doesn't mean it won't fit a different group later. Keep it! Resources are valuable!
ReplyDeleteI would set the activity aside and keep it in mind for the future. It may fit in better at another time or even with next year's class. I think it's better to not require students to do an assignment if it doesn't really fit. It's better to find a time when it will be meaningful and a valuable learning experience. If I have learned anything about teaching, it's that flexibility is a must!
ReplyDeleteI think it would be pretty frustrating if you spent time working on a lesson and you were really excited and proud of it and then you found out it wasn't really going to work. I would definitely try to fit it in somewhere else in the class, but if it just won't work, then you'd just have to try to use it in another class.
ReplyDeleteRyan,
ReplyDeleteI love your dedication. You show up to class even when we aren't meeting.
I would find it frustrating because it was this great idea that just wouldn't work and I would have to come up with something new in just a short time. As a teacher though we need to be flexible. I wouldn't forget about it all together. I would just put it aside and use it again at another time.
ReplyDeleteI too agree with wht everyone else has said. Yes, it would be frustrating to put in all the time and effort to develop something but I don't want to teach something that my students are not ready for. If I caouldn't adjust the lesson to fit their needs and have the lesson run smoothly, I would hold off on the lesson. I may be able to use it later in the year after the students have had time for more experiences and.or more knowledge. Another idea is that I might be able to use the framework of the lesson and just apply a different curriculum to it. Whatever works out, I definately would not give up on the lesson. If it doesn't work with the current class that doesn't mean it won't work with next year's class.
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