Ben,
I can hardly believe how well the Ultimate CI program works. Here are a few highlights I want to share with the group:
I walked into class yesterday morning without doing any prep for this. Before CI I spent significant time and effort on lessons that worked ok but I would have to be practically mean to the kids to get them to settle down and do it. As you can tell from the video, they’re high energy kids. So, point 1: NO PREP. Amazing! Scary and amazing.
Im so proud of the fact that the kids understood me, I accidentally went out of bounds by saying “he became” instead of “he is” but they always immediately conveyed my words without looking at me. They were so comfortable and happy and playful. I was reminded of how little they still are. (In the other Spanish class they had to do speaking tests yesterday and they were literally hiding from the teacher in the hall.) Point 2: NO ANXIETY.
Im proud of myself for trying it, and I’m proud of how slow I’m going. No one complained about the slowness or repetitiveness. I thought that making a movie would be an ordeal, but it was so easy. Point 3: NO CHAOS.
These three things, prep that led to mediocrity, anxiety for them and me, and chaos in classes were the bane of my existence. Now I can move into the role of a class facilitator. I’m so much more pleasant for them. A couple have started hanging out in my room after school. That is the biggest compliment in the world.
I don’t have this 6th grade for class today, but we will do the readings and dictee on Friday. I invested in textivate mainly because the admin really likes technology. But too, I do think it’s cool for the kids to see their stories made into activities for them. Those that miss will have access to it.
The claymation is in motion. Actually the main driver of that project bought the clay herself. Also, there is an animated version on the Agustus story made with slidestory but I’m having a hard time getting it to publish.
Anyway, today are the dreaded 7th and 9th grades. Block days too. The other Spanish teacher says she dreads Thursdays. I do too. Let’s see if things change. They’re some tough customers. I spent one summer at an immigrant shelter for Central American kids. Teaching there wasn’t easy, but compared to teaching kids who are encouraged to voice their rude opinions any time and any place, (I.e. “advocate for themselves”) and not follow the norms of respectful behavior (i.e. “being ‘ ‘adaptive experts’ and not following the crowd”), it was.
Here goes Day 3!
Julia
PS I really appreciate the PLC. It’s a safe space. I don’t use other social media. I’m not comfortable with it.