I often think as educators it is easy to forget what it is like to be a student. I can imagine that as years move forward in a career of teaching that this memory continually fades. I was struck that this teacher only walked in the shoes of a high school student for two days and in turn questioned her method of teaching over the span of fourteen years. I have often felt much of the same way as this teacher when I put myself in the position of my students. They are told to sit down, take notes, and be quiet for hours throughout the day. Could some of the lack of focus and behavioral issues evident in classroom be the result of unreleased energy constantly being boxed in? Perhaps this answer to this is obvious, but often times ensuring that content is being delivered in the classroom takes precedence over whether or not it is actually being absorbed. What good is two hours worth of lecture if students checked out forty-five minutes in?
I am in complete favor of allowing students to take stretch breaks, move around, or play with a nerf basketball in class. It breaks up the monotony, releases some energy, and indubitably helps students to focus better. As a teacher I am much more interested in engaging students in the learning and ensuring they are actively participating in the classroom. Taking a few minutes to stand up and refocus will be far more effective than droning on for what seems like an endless amount of time, or continually asking students to be quiet, which also takes time. Perhaps students should be allowed to speak, move around, and be physically active for a period of time so that they can be more engaged in what they are to learn inside the classroom.
I am in complete favor of allowing students to take stretch breaks, move around, or play with a nerf basketball in class. It breaks up the monotony, releases some energy, and indubitably helps students to focus better. As a teacher I am much more interested in engaging students in the learning and ensuring they are actively participating in the classroom. Taking a few minutes to stand up and refocus will be far more effective than droning on for what seems like an endless amount of time, or continually asking students to be quiet, which also takes time. Perhaps students should be allowed to speak, move around, and be physically active for a period of time so that they can be more engaged in what they are to learn inside the classroom.