Blog #1 - In the Middle

Hello again all,

I know, I know- it's been way too long since we've conversed. But the good news is that now we're back in full-force, and ready to become full-fledged teachers!

In my first blog of the new school year I would like to address the very first page of Nancie Atwell's book, In the Middle: New Understanding About Writing, Reading, and Learning. No, this is not a ploy meant to avoid any type of lengthy reading. It just so happens that I feel that the book opens with one of the most important point to learn when trying to become a better teacher. And here is that point, as recollected by Atwell in her book:

"I didn't learn in my classroom. I tended my creation (her curriculum). Today I learn in my classroom... I've become an evolutionist."

The reason that I believe that this quote is so important is because I have spent the last several weeks witnessing first-hand the validity of this statement. Watching my cooperating teacher do her lessons, and even facilitating a few lessons myself, I have seen that no matter how much myself or my superior may feel that a lesson is going to be a smash hit, sometimes it may crash and burn in epic flames. This is why it is so important to be able to adjust and evolve your lesson in mid-stride. I've even learned that in certain circumstances it may be necessary to completely scrap a lesson and head in a entirely new direction with it. The reason good teachers will make these adjustments to their precious, sacred lesson plans is because: It is not about you as the teacher. It is about the student and their learning.

If an element of a lesson is not working, and you know it, it is an injustice to the students to continue without making some attempt to make the lesson work for the students. This definitely takes a little bit of humility and quick thinking on a teachers part, but ultimately it is a teachers job to do what it takes to make sure that the lesson is learned, not just taught. At least that is my take on it anyway.

Signing off for this week, this is Sam P., and as always- Keep it classy Kent State!