I agree with everything you said, Mike. I recently subbed as a co-teacher in a 6th grade math class in a "good" school. The kids were absolutely out of control - even with at least 3 other adults in the room. Shouting, screaming, roaming around the room - you name it. As a sub, I cannot do much if the classroom teacher has no control. The teacher assigned to this mess is a first year teacher. How can an administrator assign a class that was loaded with problem students (behavior, IEPs, etc.) on a novice? How can parents of the few kids who want to learn stay quiet in a situation like this. Surely those parents are aware of how little their children are learning. No wonder no one wants to teach and I see no easy solutions in sight.
As you and I have talked about this very topic repeatedly, I will add you’ve hit the nail on the head again! 😊Direct instruction, Tier 1, whole group instruction, etc. is vital to the academic success of every classroom. Small groups afterwards to reteach or extend learning are a bonus IF the remaining students are capable of independent work.
I, like you, develop classroom management that in these days is often referred to as strict or mean. Back in the 90’s when I started, it was considered “best practices”, (although I absolutely dislike that phrase). As a primary grade teacher currently, that structure is thwarted daily in most classes, for all of the reasons and examples you’ve given.
Teachers are frustrated, tired, and beaten down. The videos like the one mentioned can have the opposite effect. Many teachers feel like failures because they don’t have a class like that; not realizing all of the outside forces that you mentioned are working against their success. The Educational “powers that be” MUST allow classrooms to return to the civilized places of learning that they once were. We are not guides on the side (I like that description) and should not be treated as such. ✌🏼
I think we should look to these ideal classrooms/schools as goals to strive towards but I don’t think we can ignore the tangled web of red tape in American public education. I hope serious conversations like this will take place in the next few years so we can restore high-quality education for students. (And good work environments for teachers.)
I agree with everything you said, Mike. I recently subbed as a co-teacher in a 6th grade math class in a "good" school. The kids were absolutely out of control - even with at least 3 other adults in the room. Shouting, screaming, roaming around the room - you name it. As a sub, I cannot do much if the classroom teacher has no control. The teacher assigned to this mess is a first year teacher. How can an administrator assign a class that was loaded with problem students (behavior, IEPs, etc.) on a novice? How can parents of the few kids who want to learn stay quiet in a situation like this. Surely those parents are aware of how little their children are learning. No wonder no one wants to teach and I see no easy solutions in sight.
That's for sharing your thoughts with us. You have hit the nail on the head. You were correct, I did like the article you wrote.
As you and I have talked about this very topic repeatedly, I will add you’ve hit the nail on the head again! 😊Direct instruction, Tier 1, whole group instruction, etc. is vital to the academic success of every classroom. Small groups afterwards to reteach or extend learning are a bonus IF the remaining students are capable of independent work.
I, like you, develop classroom management that in these days is often referred to as strict or mean. Back in the 90’s when I started, it was considered “best practices”, (although I absolutely dislike that phrase). As a primary grade teacher currently, that structure is thwarted daily in most classes, for all of the reasons and examples you’ve given.
Teachers are frustrated, tired, and beaten down. The videos like the one mentioned can have the opposite effect. Many teachers feel like failures because they don’t have a class like that; not realizing all of the outside forces that you mentioned are working against their success. The Educational “powers that be” MUST allow classrooms to return to the civilized places of learning that they once were. We are not guides on the side (I like that description) and should not be treated as such. ✌🏼
Happy Sunday!
I think we should look to these ideal classrooms/schools as goals to strive towards but I don’t think we can ignore the tangled web of red tape in American public education. I hope serious conversations like this will take place in the next few years so we can restore high-quality education for students. (And good work environments for teachers.)