Reading Wagner definitely allows me to question my own parenting style as well as my style of teaching. It would be difficult to let my children quit college especially with the cost, it was hard enough to let my daughter quit swimming and that was only $180! I encourage my 2 children in whatever endeavor they are interested in. I have spent entire Saturdays at anime conventions and I have sat in the rain watching soccer games. These are things they have wanted to do not things I have forced them to do. My children are smart and they have ability and I encourage them. But I am also busy and I get tired and I get frustrated. I dream of them being happy and being successful and I pray for it.
As for being a teacher, 75 students is way more difficult than 2. There are students that I don't have time to get to know mainly because they are quiet or there are other students that demand attention. I do have control over what I can do with them but how do I reach every single one? It is a little unfair to expect the classroom teacher to be able to do it all but I have found that with my project based lessons I have more ability to walk around my room and listen to my students and to get to know more of them. I will take responsibility for that time that I have them in my classroom and I will do my best to take an interest in what they do outside the classroom but I learned a long time ago that I cannot be good at everything especially when so much is expected of me. I do the best I can and then I have to let it go.
Wagner makes a good example but an example is not always the best case scenario. As a wise teacher once told me: we need to make them good and make them smart. I am trying to do that at home and at school and PBL is helping me get some good mojo to do it!
Hi Sonja,
ReplyDeleteWe are in parallel universes as mothers. My three are allowed to choose two extracurricular activities a semester not including church and with two of them involved in piano, one in dance, one in a drama play, and all three involved in our church Christmas play it makes for a busy life. While we have been squirreling away with high hopes a little bit each month towards their college fund we want to offer them choice for their lives. I have seen when parents don't acknowledge the agency children have and provide them with choices, they either figure out how to take it for themselves or become very dependent upon their parents. While I know parenting and teaching have been the two most humbling experiences of my life and I do not sit in judgement on anyone's practices, I too am learning and growing and figuring out the best ways for us to promote growth and independence while offering support and scaffolding. Niether one is easy or for the faint of heart.
In the second part of your blog post you made connections to your classroom. I agree with you that 75 students is more difficult than two because of the sheer number of students we are working on getting to know individually while also building a collective community. I loved reading that you shared how you have found that with your pbl lessons that are student directed you have more opportunities to interact with your students and provide them with feedback. I love that PBL is helping you to add some "good mojo!" We need all of that we can get!
Sincerely,
Dawn