So I went old-school with my two afternoon classes today. We ran far, far away from constructivist teaching (what I'm working on this year) and went back to what I'm best at: the 5 step lesson.
Oh TFA, how you helped me so much with the 5 stepper. I grab your attention. Then, I model what to do. We do some together, then you do it alone. Sometimes, I add in some interesting stuff: you practice with a partner....we use a timer...you do your problems on the board for everyone to critic...etc.
AND LIFE WAS SO JOYFUL WHEN ALL WAS QUIET AND I WAS IN CHARGE. SO JOYFUL FOR ME.
But not worthwhile in the long term for my students.
And I was so bored....because I was telling the kids what to do. They weren't figuring it out themselves. They weren't learning...they were doing.
None of this is going to stay with them...because their little brains didn't grapple with it. They didn't work in groups. They didn't construct an idea. They didn't have equilibrium rattled.
Damn it, with all my professional development and my love of teaching the kids what to be problem solvers and my guilt when the kiddos don't develop knowledge. Damn my guilt.
But sometimes, I need that. I need them to be able to answer standardized test questions so the administration can get off my back. So the federal government can get off my back. So my kiddos don't see more than 5 lines of text on a math question and give up.
AHHHH its a double edged sword.
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