Changes in Learning

When I was a kid we weren't allowed to use calculators in class. You were expected to figure out calculations on your own. After all, you aren't always going to have a calculator in your pocket, they said. Well, smart phones have certainly changed that. The world is changing faster and faster all the time. 

I have adjusted the way we do research in our classroom. As a grade level, we used to be adamant that students had to go to the library and have a book for their research. It was always a big ordeal. This year, with the pandemic and libraries being closed to visits, we decided we could use the internet as our main source for research. We learned about the importance of verifying information, considering the source and doing a lot of searching - all time well spent. Interestingly, I think the reports they wrote this year were better than any in previous years!

I see these changes happening in my classroom in many different areas. We have been reading The One and Only Ivan lately. We read that Ivan has been in his domain 9855 days. I asked our math super star how long that is in years. 

Superstar: Oh! I'll figure it out right now. Can I do it while I listen to you read?
Me: Sure! 
Superstar: Wait. Should I count leap years?
Me: How about we just use the same number for each year to keep it simple.

Superstar gets to work while we continue reading. Soon he interjects:

Superstar: Whoa! I've got ten 365s and I'm only to 3650 days! 
Me: What if you doubled your answer...then you'd be at 20 365s and you could see how close you are.

Superstar: No way. I'm not going to cut corners. I need to show all my work.

Quiet Student interjects: Excuse me. I searched it up (this is the 8 year old term for 'I googled it..") and it says it is just a little more than 27 years.
Superstar: Cheater! I'm not even listening to you! 

Me: Well, how about you keep going and we'll see if your answer matches. It's always good to verify information we find on the internet, right?

So the question is, who's the better learner?! Some would definitely side with my superstar and the truth is, he has some great skills. However, if they both get to the right answer, does it matter?

I was discussing this with my daughter and she said, I just read about that for one of my classes. She sent me the article. It gives great food for thought. It also reminded me of a book I read years ago by a Canadian author I had the chance to listen to. Time travel was involved (not one of my favorite genres) and the main character witnessed the beginnings of feminism and people struggling with accepting Henry Ford's horseless vehicles. It was preposterous! What were wagon wheel makers going to do if everyone started driving his cars?!


Note: Superstar never did finish the math problem. He got distracted. Quiet Student is one who is not fast at math and does not love to practice math facts. I do all sorts of songs and dances to try to get Quiet Student to practice math facts and increase recall proficiency. 

Early Dismissal Days

Last year our school district decided to start having Early Dismissal days. My children have had early dismissals and I must confess, I thought it was filled with easy afternoons for teachers: extra time to catch up and get ready for the next week.

Maybe it is for some, but it sure isn't for us! We seem to have more meetings and more PD jammed into our early dismissal days than I ever imagined could be possible. They are busy days.

For some reason, we also seem to jam extra stuff into the mornings with students on early dismissal days. There certainly not days to miss!

Today we had a spell-a-thon, did a comic life project, traded Artist Trading Cards, had gym and even had a little time for "Free Friday"! I'm exhausted!

It's a good kind of exhaustion though. My professional growth plan this year was to implement the strategies taught in Kagan and CHAMPs more effectively. I'm learning to have quick transitions and better classroom management and the amount we accomplish in a day is increasing as my students and I get better at it all.

Who am I kidding. Early Dismissal days aren't the only jam packed days!

 

 

Little Souls

This little video came along at just the right time for me. In my class we have been working on a project. I explained the instructions. Most of the kids jumped right to it and did the job. There are just a couple who didn't. There are a variety of reasons, which generally just start (and end) with "I don't get it". So I re-explain. They start, but stumble. And so it continues.

 I was starting to feel a little frustrated with a couple of students when I read an article that had a little video attached. You can watch it here. Good timing. It helped those frustrations evaporate and reminded me again that these are all children he with unique and amazing abilities. They don't always fit into the holes I create, and pounding certainly doesn't help. I am reminded that the most important thing I can do is love them and respect them. That is when real learning happens anyway.