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Letting Go of Control and Giving Students Choices

2/20/2012

5 Comments

 
I have been a reflecting machine lately.  I have always thought of myself as pretty self aware.  I think about my practice, reflect on lessons, talk with coworkers and all that really good stuff, but lately I have certainly upped the ante. 

I am at a point in my career where it would be easy to start taking teaching for granted and just go with the flow/do the same old thing.  I refuse to let this happen.  I am determined to not be that kind of teacher.  To not teach a lesson/unit the way that I have because it has worked before, but rather, to actively think about what I am doing, the rationale behind it and adapt/shift/change as needed. 

This term I have taught very differently.
(Read: I have taken a lot of risks.) 

It is incredible!  I love teaching more than ever! 

I have really pushed myself, including beginning genius hour in my classroom, blogging regularly with my students, encouraging students to BYOD and letting them take the reigns regarding what their reading projects and homework should look like. 

I have let go of a lot of control, and it hasn't been easy.  There are times when I think to myself, "what am I doing?" but thankfully those are greatly out numbered by the times that I hear students say:
  • "I know how to do that.  Let me help you" to their classmate.
  • "Can we comment on each other's blogs for homework?" 
  • "Let's look it up", as they pull out their own smart device.
I am giving them choices and letting them go explore topics they feel passionate about. 

At the last Pro D Day, I went to a lecture given by David Warlick. He reminded us that " This time of rapid change is forcing us, for the first time in decades to rethink education and what it means to be educated."

I think that is very important.   We need to change the way we teach and perhaps sometimes try teaching less, and instead show our students how to teach themselves and each other.  We can all do this more often.  Sometimes it is as easy as stepping back and asking, "How do you think we should do it?"

I would love to hear about how other teachers give students choice and provide authentic learning experiences!

5 Comments
Tia link
2/21/2012 02:53:04 pm

Well said!

I think it is so true that our students will be engaged and excited if their teachers are engaged and excited. You are definitely showing that to be true. It is fun and scary taking all these risks, but they are all worth it! As David Warlick said last Friday, it is our ultimate goal to teach children how to teach themselves. That is what you are doing. Congratulations!

I did Genius Hour as well (I called it 100 minutes of Genius). It was so much fun. I think that my students worked their very best and hardest during this time! I look forward to doing our second 100 Minutes of Genius next week!

Good luck and keep on taking those risks.
Tia

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Dana
2/23/2012 12:07:40 pm

Would you share more on your genius hour?

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Gallit Zvi link
2/24/2012 03:44:08 am

Thank you, Tia! It is definitely worth it! My students are having so much fun and learning so much about being problem solvers/independent workers this year!

We should compare genius hour ideas sometime!

:) Gallit

Reply
Gallit Zvi link
2/24/2012 03:47:29 am

Hi Dana,

Thanks for your message...I have been getting a lot of questions about genius hour so I will blog about it in more detail next!

:) Gallit

Reply
Denise Krebs link
3/4/2012 07:46:40 am

Gallit,
I love this post! I am at such a similar position as you. I have loved teaching so much more this year than previous years. Perhaps I was in a rut of doing the same old stuff. Now I am taking more risks, and they don't always turn out positively, but it's worth the risk for the rewards.

My students are more engaged, care more about learning and less about grades. We have a long way to go, but we are on the way.

One thing I did not realize would happen is that they are more trusting of me, and our relationship has grown warmer and closer.

Looking forward to our first Twiter #geniushour chat on Wed, March 7, at 6 p.m. PST! :)

Denise

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    My name is Gallit Zvi and I am an Elementary School Teacher and Vice Principal in Surrey, BC. I am also a blogger and co-author of The Genius Hour Guidebook.
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