- I was thinking about some of the changes in my day since taking on blended learning. Some that came to mind are:
- I slimmed down... not me personally (darn) but my classroom. I got rid of extra furniture and STUFF! I hauled out container units and plastic shelves. My goal was a clean... classroom of the 21st century... look.
- I threw out tons of stuff from my files (why was I keeping papers, activities, ideas for 15 years that I wasn't using?)
- I no longer think of teaching in curricular boxes. I think of teaching as a big circle now because everything seems to flow together or rather, one curricular area flows into the next.
- I no longer post a schedule like: 9:00 - Reading, 11:00 - Writing... because reading and writing flow into social studies and science. Science flows into math and sometimes includes reading and writing. WHAT???
- When planning, my first thought is...How can students investigate and determine what I want them to learn in groups, pairs, on their own...? In other words... what are some ways students can meet my learning goals without ME standing in front of the room talking to 25 students?
- How can lessons and activitities be designed so that 100% of my students are engaged and learning?
- What do I want my students to experience that will enhance their learning the absolute most. So I have to make decisions about how to help them be self-directed and motivated in their quest for answers. And... I have to make the answers worth finding!!!
- My classroom is noisier and students more free to move about. Materials are out for them to access because they are making their own decisions about what they need in order to accomplish goals.
- Maybe the most important... I had to let go of control ....AAAHHHH!!!! So scary! I have had to trust my students to be able to learn without me and to deal with not being the most important person in the classroom. WHAT?? Sniff, sniff
- I'm very tired at the end of each day but I am more proud of what I do than ever before.
So What are the benefits that I have noticed?- My students are very independent and cooperative. They are building self reliance and confidence in their own abilities and decisions.
- I know my students better than I ever have... because they are each working at their instructional levels and because I have time to individually work with each student every day... I really know where they are and where they are headed.
- There is a higher level of trust among students and between the students and me.
- Students have been given the freedom to make decisions and take risks. This leads us to sometimes stray into areas I had not originally planned but always with positive results.
- My students who struggle are making better progress than I have ever seen because their learning is designed for their pace and level. They may be moving slower but they know, well, the skills and concepts at the level at which they are learning and working.
- My excellerated students are shining and happy. Again, because their learning is designed for their pace and abilities they are challenged, moving forward, and having fun.
- I slimmed down... not me personally (darn) but my classroom. I got rid of extra furniture and STUFF! I hauled out container units and plastic shelves. My goal was a clean... classroom of the 21st century... look.