March 28, 2007

• Today, I realized that when a teacher assigns great, well-thought out projects (ones that both teachers and students can enjoy/appreciate), that particular teacher has less complaining to deal with in the classroom, AND the students use class time much more efficiently. I haven’t had many problems in class since we came back from Spring Break. And students have even stated (to me) how much they are enjoying the project. In addition, for a few of these work days on the PPT MusicVideo, I have had a majority of students staying past the :50 mark. Some in my 11am class come early and barge in on the 10am students, too! If only they looked at papers this way. I think I need to survey them next week about this project and get more input from them.
  > How can this energy be placed onto paper writing, the type of composition required? Is it possible?
  > What is it about this project that enthralled them so much? What “sold” them?

  I think I am also getting better and better at explaining any and all of my assignments. Having a handout for everything (designed well with grading criteria) really, really helps them, and I am able to refer back to it instead of saying and repeating, “Well, when I introduced I said you had to ___.”

  • 11:17 pm
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