I was communicating privately with a group member who is new to this work in an attempt to clear up a few confusions of the kind that naturally appear when first trying to learn how CI works, all a part of the steep learning curve required to completely change how one teaches. After we cleared up those pedagogical details, I was met by this very classy response from this person:
Hey Ben,
I’m clear. I’m just starting to really learn about CI & TPRS this school year. I’ve been watching your videos, reading through TPRS In a Year, the PLC, and I’ve just really started experimenting with it in class. I really love the philosophy behind it and I already have students asking if they can do more stories, even though I’m a complete novice at it. I think it’s a much more humane, caring, and creative way of teaching than through “traditional” methods. (Though when you think about our ancient ancestors, you really can’t get more traditional than telling stories. All we need is a good campfire, food, and beverage to go with it…)
It’s tiring because it takes a lot more heart and energy than just handing out and explaining worksheets, and the learning curve is steep. But, I do think that it will be worth it to see just how much more my students will learn- particularly those who so often get left behind with (faux) “traditional” methods.
So, at this point I’m slowly adding in more CI & TPRS as I let go of my old ways of doing things. Thanks for all of the great information and encouragement! I’m glad to be a part of the community. I just have a lot to learn!
Merci mille fois!