8th Grade Challenge (10.28.11)
Yesterday at circle Isa made an announcement about the 8th grade challenge…which includes having all the 8th graders pass with no I’s and if they do that, 8th grade will receive out of uniform for an entire month and the male middle school staff will wear skirts for a week. If they don’t, Isa will cut an inch off his hair.
I’m not sure how to feel about all this…I see it as a fun challenge. But again, why is it merely about grades? But then again in the real world, that output does matter, and often is the only thing that matters. At the same time, whatever happened to cultivating minds that an think and make decisions for THEMSELVES. Because I strongly believe that if we do this, ultimately students will be successful in all the other ways. But we cant see that process and so automatically what we turn to is how are we going to get the output without thinking through the process.
Yesterday in 8A we had our first fishbowl. It was amazing how Br and Te blossomed in that situation; they spoke and argued and shared. It was really empowering to see them speak up and respond to one another. Was it perfect? Absolutely not. We need to foster our ability to speak and confidence to respond to one another. In addition, there needs to be more opportunities to learn how to LISTEN to one another. I look forward to 8B and 8C’s fishbowl discussion today…
Will they complete this challenge? We’ll see…
Is it a matter of the teachers or the students? "Lo" made a point this morning about how we are not setting our students up for success when we differentiate and cater to their needs and make the comfortable—in college they will not be given differentiated instruction. So what do we do for our students???
I’m not sure how to feel about all this…I see it as a fun challenge. But again, why is it merely about grades? But then again in the real world, that output does matter, and often is the only thing that matters. At the same time, whatever happened to cultivating minds that an think and make decisions for THEMSELVES. Because I strongly believe that if we do this, ultimately students will be successful in all the other ways. But we cant see that process and so automatically what we turn to is how are we going to get the output without thinking through the process.
Yesterday in 8A we had our first fishbowl. It was amazing how Br and Te blossomed in that situation; they spoke and argued and shared. It was really empowering to see them speak up and respond to one another. Was it perfect? Absolutely not. We need to foster our ability to speak and confidence to respond to one another. In addition, there needs to be more opportunities to learn how to LISTEN to one another. I look forward to 8B and 8C’s fishbowl discussion today…
Will they complete this challenge? We’ll see…
Is it a matter of the teachers or the students? "Lo" made a point this morning about how we are not setting our students up for success when we differentiate and cater to their needs and make the comfortable—in college they will not be given differentiated instruction. So what do we do for our students???
Good questions. I totally agree that in looking for the output, we can't forget the process. I think that over the course of this motivational challenge, having students be metacognitive about their study habits, their focus on the content, and their evolving identities as learners, should remind them of the process of being a good student that you so rightly value.
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