Comments on: Redefining our roles as teachers

By: mrshawke

mrshawke — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:57:00 +0000

Haha, Peter, I don’t know about the “sell it” part. I’m much better at helping other people market their businesses than I am at anything of my own. I’ve just been giving all of my materials away to whomever wanted them for years now. It’s fun. :D

By: mrshawke

mrshawke — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:49:35 +0000

Your last line is crucial, Tracy. We, as teachers, need to be learners. I personally have always been inspired by learning and don’t want to live without it. But it’s a shame that it’s not fostered in secondary education as it is in higher education. College professors are generally encouraged — and even expected — to research, collaborate, write, and publish. And you can feel it in the air, like electricity. That’s the environment I want to work in. I wonder how I can help transform my school into that kind of place…

By: tracy

tracy — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:12:12 +0000

I agree with Peter. The steps are important, shared vision should come first. More often than not it doesn’t, which is a shame because the students lose out. Teachers who feel they are being forced to lecture for 75 minutes or more are less than likely to offer inspiring lessons within the new schedule.

Once the new schedule is in place, I have found that only when teachers share with others what works when designing learning environments are shifts made in teaching habits.

I think if are going to create learning environments in our classrooms, we must have a learning environment in our staffroom as well.

By: JamesD

JamesD — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:53:45 +0000

Thanks for the useful info. It’s so interesting

By: Peter Pappas

Peter Pappas — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:05:28 +0000

Hi Jo,

I enjoyed your take on the block and reading that I served as a catalyst for your post. I think the key to successful transition to a block comes when the majority of the faculty is comfortable with a more student-centered approach and want more time. Too often, a top-down plan is mandated before the faculty is on board. Step 1: Craft a shared vision of teaching and learning Step 2: Create the organizational structure to make it happen. (And don’t mix up the order of the steps!)

There are many different types of blocks and + and – for all. Many formats can be adopted to your local needs of rooms, staffing, buses, etc. The key – It takes time for students to take responsibility for their learning – the product, process followed and evaluation for progress. It’s hard for that to happen in a 45 min span.

Enjoy summer and when you get a chance,go dig up that list of reasons and sell it!