End of term and I have spent some time reflecting about the
classroom.
What I have noticed is that most of the class are very
independent in their learning. They know what to do, when they need to do and
where they like to learn/work. The only frustration I had were a small group of
students that still couldn’t complete all the week’s task in the allocated time
span. To be honest it was driving me mad. When I started this ‘independent
working hour’ I set the week’s task pretty much the same, so routines were set
and then expanded on that. I explained orally and in written form so they heard
and could visually see what they needed to do. Each day I reminded them as
well, yet I still have this issue.
I felt like I was hitting a brick wall and began to question
what I was doing wrong. Why couldn’t this small group of students complete
their set tasks? The tasks themselves were not difficult and were set for them
as individuals. They had over 5 hours in the week to complete them therefore
time allocation and the amount of tasks were not an issue. So where was I going
wrong?
It was in a staff meeting where we were learning about
another school and how they approached this that it finally hit me. I naturally
assumed by the end of term 3 everyone would be independent learners. Not once
had I thought that I should still be directing some of them still.
The next day I decided to experiment with this idea. I had
started to think about next term and how I was going to approach the idea of
allowing individual students the freedom to work inside or outside. This was a
great opportunity to introduce this and discuss again what an independent
learner was. We talked about what the word independent meant and how this
related to the classroom and their learning. We discussed how we could’ see’
and ‘hear’ an independent worker and what ‘self-managing’ their own time was
about. I then asked them to reflect and decide if they felt they were independent
learners. As I expected most agreed that they were and a few felt they were not
yet there.
Looking back now, I should have spent more time teaching
this phase at the beginning of term 3 but as I was taking time off work I
rushed through this part and assumed those in question would soon ‘get it’. Although
I knew everyone was going to become ‘independent learners’ in their own time, I
guess I never assumed that it might take a few students a lot longer than the
rest. This small group have now become my ‘directed’ learners where I tell them
what they have to do in the allocated time slot. They understand that until
they can self-manage their own time they will stay on this level. And it is
working!
My ‘independent learners’ are now working on their next
level of being given the opportunity to prove they can self-manage their time
in a responsible manner to be allowed the choice where they can work which will
included outside the classroom. I have decided to create lanyards for them so they
are easily identifiable to other members of stuff. I am thinking that on the back
of them it will outline what they should be doing therefore teachers can see
this straight away.
So what have I learnt about myself? I need to remember to give my students time
and to realise that they all won’t get there together.
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