Whenever I read an article by an "expert" or learn a new strategy at a workshop, it always seems that they make magic with a text. Really, I have to say, they just were aware of a meaty text. I have learned that once I find these strong pieces, I too can work magic with the strategies I already know. So what does this mean for me as an educator? I need to be well read. I have been trying to decide what my other elective will be, and I'm starting to think it should be a Literature class of some sort. How did these "experts" come to collect all of their tools? Is it experience, lots of collaborating, education or a combination of these?
This was the first thing that came to mind as I read Ellin Oliver Keene's chapter in Adolescent Literacy, The Essence of Understanding. As I read on, she asked readers to pause and reflect on a time we were exploring a complex concept or trying to understand an overwhelming amount of information. She then asked, "What contributed to your eventual understanding?" Choosing just one time is difficult, but I would have to reflect on my recent challenges with data team cycles. Although I am not sure I have come to an eventual understanding, I am trying. I am asking questions as we go through the process and I am having meaningful conversations with my team. We first had to admit that we didn't get it before we were willing to ask for help and support. We have struggled through the process together, tears and all. We had the stamina to keep going when it felt fruitless and we tried even when we were afraid it was wrong. Without this experience, none of us would be this much closer to "getting it." Reading her dimensions of understanding list, I feel more confident that I will "get it" because she described exactly what we have been doing and what I have been feeling through the process.
Try it, think of a time you explored a complex concept. What contributed to your eventual understanding? Take that one step further...how would your students react when they experienced those same feelings as they struggled? How could you help them "get it?"
Posts
After reading the chapter by Jim Burke, I realize that a lot of the background knowledge that teachers bring to the table does, in fact, come from being well read, collaborative and educated. These are not the only requirements of teachers in the 21st century. They have to synthesize all of the information they learn from all of these sources and create a new method, strategy or perspective that has not been done. They then have to explain their findings to others. This in turn helps them have leverage in what they do and teach in their classrooms and districts. If they do not adapt to the new methods brought forth by the district or the research they read, they will quickly become obsolete and no longer be effective educators. While all of these are skills that we need to teach our students, more importantly they are skills that we need to exemplify as teachers if we want our teaching to be effective for a changing population.
ReplyDelete