This is from skip by way of the moretprs list. I include it here because it fits into our recent thread here:
Hey Ben –
This recent post from the more list resonates with the talk on the blog recently about “teacher control”. We have SO much work to do 🙁 to save our children from this…).I deleted the name because the name doesn’t matter…. What she expresses is the real reason for the opposition to the method…
Teacher says:
I have been researching TPRS for a few years, always wanting to try it out and always chickening out because I work in an urban school (9-12)where things get out of control quickly and I suppose I use the structure of my teaching to keep everyone focused and not acting out.
That said, the other challenge that I see is that my students’ attention span is very short and being asked to participate or at least pay attention for the whole hour, in their words, “That’s too much.” I recognize it’s a cop out on their part (just gimme the worksheet and let me be done) but I don’t know how to help it be different…I can’t imagine them being willing to draw pictures of stories, etc.
I would love to hear from some teachers who may have started TPRS part-time – allowing themselves to get comfortable before they jumped in all the way. I have begun using novels, which we do a chapter/week and they 1/2 hate 1/2 enjoy them.
Thanks.