Shift Happens
Posted: March 6, 2013 Filed under: First 5 Days, Inquiry, Pedagogy 4 CommentsThis year was a big shift for students in our class. We made a deliberate shift from textbook learning to a much more inquiry based, authentic learning classroom focus. The shift was a challenge for many students.
Overheard in the fall,
“Can’t we just do worksheets in math?”
Overheard yesterday,
“I’m so excited. Tomorrow we have a double math period!”
Perhaps the First 5 Days really takes 5 months. This is due in large part to my PLN in the Twitterverse for helping me stay the course and keeping the focus on the moral imperative.
Changing Views 
That is a huge difference from expecting a worksheet to a more inquiry based authentic learning focus. Good for you for staying the course!
Thank you for listening over coffee, and over Twitter 🙂
Shift happens over time. The fall is a hard time when students aren’t used to struggling and problem solving. Congrats on staying the course.
It saddens me when a teacher will bail on a new idea because the students “don’t like it” at first glance. We are creatures of habit and sometimes it takes a great educator to see the end goal and give the experiment enough time to catch on.
Keep on plugging away!