The article “The Flexible Teacher,” I believe, highlights the reality of creating a course (with lessons, activities and expectations associated with a certain content and ability) only to realize that those expectations needed to be adjusted in order for the lesson(s) to be effective. This instructor found out that things change and that instruction needed to change with particular groups, even at the college level. This instructor also came to realize that the students he was now teaching required a different type of instruction, a more hands-on approach, specific short-term goals and more individualized instruction rather than the typical college level approach that expects students to set their own pace and monitor themselves in order to meet deadlines.
The way in which the instructor addressed the problem is typical of a flexible teacher who understands the importance of monitoring and adjusting to suit the needs of the student body. Every student at the k-12 level is different and require some type of adjustment academically. I have been impressed to see this type of sensitivity on the part of teachers in my experience as both student teacher and my prior experience substitute teaching in various schools around the New York City area.
My question to you is this: when you think of your classroom now, as a student teacher, what situations have arisen that have made you realize that you need to be flexible in your approach to academic and social issues?
As a student teacher, I don't feel like I'm doing very well at being flexible with my lessons. I teach the same lesson 4 times each day and I modify it as the day goes on to improve it and make it better, but that's not the same as adjusting to the needs of one class. I really don't feel proficient enough yet at this whole teaching thing to be flexible like the author described.
ReplyDeleteI do try to read the mood/level of tiredness of each group of my students every day, and adjust my own energy level to either go with theirs or try to compensate for theirs if they seem barely awake or unable to pay attention.
I really enjoy trying to meet the individual needs of students as far as providing extra encouragment, extra help, and extra attention to those who need it. That part is easy for me. But changing the lesson as I'm teaching it is really hard. Hopefully that will come with experience...
I feel that it is very important to be able to constantly monitor and adjust lessons to suit the needs of the student body. This is a skill that I hope to master with time.
ReplyDeleteAs a student teacher, I also teach the same lessons about 3 times a day. I adjust my lessons when I find that it needs adjustments or if I see that the students do not seem to grasp the material as well as I would like them to. After a lesson, I may think of something that I would like to add, adjust, or subtract from and I do so accordingly with the next class. Like Cindy, I find it a bit difficult to change the lessons completely as I am teaching it. However, I know that this is an art that I will get better at as the years progress. I feel that I am learning and will continue to do so for a very long time as a teacher. It is a process and only experience will get you to the level that you want to reach.
I believe it is very important to monitor and adjust our lessons to fit the needs of our students, even if it means sacrificing the objective of the day. I have experienced several times sacrificing the objective to make sure that students grasp the material of the day, whether it means back tracking and reviewing certain things, or taking time out of the class to answer questions. I also feel that adjusting certain assignments that should be done individually into group work can be an effective way to help students understand the material. I have also noticed that my second period of World History goes much better than my first because I know how to adjust the lesson and explain things much better.
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest issues I face with being flexible occurs between the two 6th grade classes I teach. Four out of five days a week I teach the two 6th grade classes consecutively and I have them in varying orders. I have found that I must adjust lesson plans and be highly flexible on many levels with both classes.
ReplyDeleteThe first issue I have is that the lesson I have with the first 6th grade is, in some sense, a test run of the lesson. Seeing as many of these lessons are being executed for the first time, there are often aspects of the lesson that I learn just do not work out. It is between the first period and the second period that I must examine the lesson I just taught, consider what the students understood quickly and needed more time to comprehend, and then execute a slightly revised lesson to the second class of 6th graders.
Also, one group of 6th graders is comprised of mostly average level learners while the other is full inclusion with the lowest and highest level learners. This also takes an extreme amount of flexibility seeing as I must give additional time to the lower level learners to catch up while providing the higher level learners with additional work to complete if they finish early. The issue of flexibility comes in when one class completes an assignment in the allotted 45 minutes and the other is done in twenty. Overall, the past few months have really helped me to improve my flexibility so that every student is always engaged in learning and applying what they are learning without being bored or overwhelmed.
I agree with Chet. My second period is always better taught then my first because I am able to make those adjustments upon reflecting on the lesson. My adjustments have to be faster and while the lesson is going on, rather than after, because my first period needs to get as much out of me as my second. The same goes for my two US History classes. My other World History class is late in the afternoon and although they likely get my best effort, there are other challenges to teaching them because they are tired. This phenomenon, I imagine, lessens as you get more and more experience and teach the material over several different years.
ReplyDeleteI believe that you have to be flexible to an extent. I have two honors classes both of which are double periods. I can most certainly tell that my one class is at a higher level then the other. But, within each class I have kids at different levels as well. So when I teach something I know there are students that are going to understand it that first time and I know there are going to be some that most likely won't get it. Here is where I have to be flexible and adjust to figure out a different way to approach it and give these students a different explanation that makes it easier for them to understand.
ReplyDeleteI belive that every teacher needs to be flexible in their lessons. My first period class has become a guide on where I need to adjust the lesson. After teaching first period, if I need to change or add things to the lesson this is when I have the opportunity to do so. Sometimes this even happens in my third period, I can see what needs to be changed if the students are having a hard time understanding. In Dr. C's class that I took last semester at Caldwell College we talked extensively about being an effective teacher is being able to "monitor and adjust" everyday. I think it is an important part of teaching.
ReplyDeleteI believe that flexibility is an essential part of teaching. I realized as a student teacher, that there are many times when I've had to use a back up plan or think on my feet. Like many others have expressed, my period 1 class unfortunately becomes my "trial and error" class and I learn from my mistakes. I think it's important to plan (and overplan just in case!) and have all materials ready. But I also think it's important to be flexible when it comes to teaching. For example, some classes will not understand a topic as well as others and you may find yourself taking longer to explain it. I realized that it is very hard trying to keep all of my classes at the same pace.
ReplyDeleteThere are always going to be times when things don't go as planned and that is why teachers need to be flexible. For example, yesterday we had an evacuation (not a drill, a real one!) and that put that class behind where they were supposed to be. Also, the networking system has stopped working in my classroom due to the wires being ripped and this week the students were supposed to be using laptops and PowerPoints and they cannot even log on. Because of things such as this, I basically had no choice but to become flexible with the lesson.
I also think that as times change, teachers need to keep up with the changes such as with technology. Students are receiving information differently and are more aware of issues. They are also constantly hooked to technology so I think it is important for a teacher to use what interests them in a positive,educational way.