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Re: Chapter 5--Everybody Counts
Posted:
Mar 28, 1995 12:35 PM
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>3. The author points out that the United States is "one of the few
>countries in the world that continues to pretend--despite substantial
>evidence to the contrary--that elementary school teachers are able to
>teach all subjects equally well." What recommendations for change would
>you make to ameliorate this situation?
From the perspective of no children and no regular elementary experience -
I think comfortable and routine is good for children which implies a single
teacher rather than rotating teachers. So a resource person who could be
available to help the classroom teachers plan and keep them informed would
be ideal. The resource person could also be available for "special"
presentations, ones the classroom teacher is not comfortable with or to
give her/him a break. There should be at least one per resource person per
building.
The resource person could also be the classroom teacher for _some_ of the
upper grades classes who are rotating teachers. Clearly not all, but
perhaps a third or half load depending on the size of the building.
>4. The author argues for less directive strategies of teaching and
>claims that "less teaching will yield more learning." What is the price
>to pay for less directive teaching, and on what basis could such claims
>of more learning be made?
At the college level if they do it I have to look at it or they won't do it
("training" from earlier experiences? :( ). So they write to explain their
findings, thinking, etc. and that creates more grading (although I'm
getting faster grading writing, it's still slower than checking answers).
That's my particular price for less directive teaching.
BUT, now that I'm doing this, I wouldn't change it for the world. Being
less familiar with my student than a k-12 teacher is with theirs, I learn
more about the students more quickly and I know that there is good learning
going on. Experience is all the basis I have for my claim of good learning,
but I think that's enough. (Of course, research that substantiates this is
always nice!)
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Mary K. Hannigan VoiceNet 512-485-7219
Austin Community College FaxNet 512-495-7115
1212 Rio Grande or 512-280-3977
Austin, TX 78701 Internet hannigan@mail.utexas.edu
or hannigan@austin.cc.tx.us
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