tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984299427131122446.post3121486759763580548..comments2023-09-19T08:02:51.410-07:00Comments on The Best Thing For Being Sad: Mouth shut & maladjustedPeter Ambler Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15710348705956809407noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984299427131122446.post-31223359498337199932009-10-20T17:27:29.759-07:002009-10-20T17:27:29.759-07:00Peter, I really enjoyed this post, and particularl...Peter, I really enjoyed this post, and particularly the idea of being maladjusted. You mentioned that one teacher said "I want to talk less" and toward that end took part in reading "How to keep your mouth shut". It seems though that even that book offers teachers a solution, a "do this and have a better class" attitude. Following up on the maladjustment and your "nakedness" concept, I think that there might not be A way to combine "being the teacher" and giving students autonomy. That dynamic constantly changes. Sometimes the students are ready and able to take the material and learn, teach themselves, discuss and think. Other days, they may need more of a lecture from a teacher (to be spoonfed as Kathi calls it). I do think, however, the burden of figuring out which day is which lies on the teacher. It does not seem likely that students will know - "today, we are able to teach ourselves". It just kind of happens when it is allowed. <br />On a related note, I have also been thinking about the goals of a class day. It seems like we all enter the classroom with the belief that something must be "learned, discussed, understood, accomplished" in order for those 60-120 minutes to have meant something. I'm not sure that real learning can take place during a class. You have mentioned a couple times that teachers who go to teacher training seminars understand 98% of what they hear, but 98% don't apply it to their classrooms until they receive frequent feedback and support after the seminar. (the tennis backhand story). I believe that students need to be given more time to read, talk about, and experience the things that are covered in classes. The reason that every class session means so much is because the teachers only give one day to learn an entire concept. This is especially prevelant in undergrad and grad schools. But what articles, theories, researchers, ideas REALLY NEED to be taught. If there is a downsizing of the amount of material covered, the students can really explore and make an idea their own. This particularly worries me about the Portfolio process. During our two years here, we have been exposed to so many names and dates (Shaw, 2009), books, ideas, etc. that when we need to decide what really belongs to us, what belongs in OUR Portfolio, its a much more difficult task. Anyway, I have strayed. Thanks for the post. TonyTonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00050693540237724334noreply@blogger.com