Unlock with PatreonThe Problem with CI
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I Was Just Thinking
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3 thoughts on “I Was Just Thinking”
Yes at my Reading/Writing Workshop trainings, we learned the concept of “novelty within predictability”. The CONTENT, if relevant, rigorous (in the sense of true rigor as in intellectually “chewy” to chew upon), and of a clear value to the student), and compelling, will provide the variety. The STRUCTURE, if it is predictable, is actually comforting, reassuring, and provides the safety for real growth to happen. When the rules are constantly changing, kids get a nervous feeling. People, especially younger people, like knowing what is coming. There is so much we don’t know in life, so much we can’t control. Routine is comforting, and so is ritual. If the content is not interesting, then we feel the pressure to get out the grab bag of tricks. If the content is compelling, we can roll on and on within the same “lesson plan” structure. Trust me on this one, I taught reading and writing workshop with the same structure day in and day our for EIGHT YEARS. Never got old. The books, stories, lessons, poems…all revolved through the year like the constellations over our heads. We were firmly planted on the solid ground of routine and ritual.
Come to think of it I need to get back to ritual and routine more in my classes. SI have a student teacher and it has been a wild ride. More structure the better right now I think. Today she finished up her work sample (thank goodness) and tomorrow is an assessment day. Back to normal Monday. Greet them, shoot the breeze, silent reading, shoot the breeze, calendar, input time, clean up time. Lather, rinse, and repeat. Always repeat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HwcYEsXtdk
This part is brilliant. It is a very efficiently moving plan and probably feels like the kids arrive and then boom it’s time to go. I love this plan and I especially love that it occurs this way every day:
…greet them, shoot the breeze, silent reading, shoot the breeze, calendar, input time, clean up time. Lather, rinse, and repeat….
Tina could you comment on the clean up?
Ha ha, clean up time. Well, I have them clean up – in the period before lunch and the last period of the day I have a Trash Kid who gets to tell the others how many pieces of trash to pick up from the floor. Then he (usually this is a he, just saying) stands by the door, does not have to actually pick up trash himself, and counts, literally verifies the others’ trash collection on their way out as they show it to him and then deposit in the trash can he is holding. We also have a job that Ting made up this year, which started in fourth but spread to all the periods. There are four groups, which Ting named “houses” (Like in Harry Potter) and there is a tally spot on the board where she deducts points when their group leaves without straightening the chairs and putting away all materials. At the end of each month I make a new starting chart. The group(s) with the highest score for the month get to enter their name in a raffle, and the prize is four Jolly Ranchers. For some reason this actually motivates.