Week 2 - Teachers' Reflections

Week 2 Semester 2 Reflection 
"What do you want the students you teach to be like as adults?" 

I came across the statement above while reading Ron Ritchhart's book titled: "Creating Cultures of Thinking". Its allowed me to reflect on how sometimes I can overthink lessons or worry about a students academic performance. 

Academic grades and measurements are definitely important, but lessons, assignments, and projects should always encourage students to become better students, better thinkers, better communicators. 

If parents and teachers sat down together for an hour long discussion about how to address the question above, I would guess the majority of the adults in the room would come to an agreement about what they'd like their sons and daughters to experience. 

Today, students and parents are faced with an array of decisions.  These decisions are important and complex. Decisions such as: Online classes, traditional classes, tech-center training, college (4 year vs. 2 year), financial restraints, and other family dynamics - which are always evolving. 
In the end, we want students (our kids) to have opportunities to demonstrate their learning, their qualities, and their ability to persevere. 

When students reflect on those qualities and determine where to best rehearse those skills, it makes the decision making process easier.

I've always viewed High School as a dress rehearsal. It preps them for the theatrics of adulthood. If students can rehearse the daily habits of thinking, writing, reading, collaboration, and personal volition their transition to the unknown (adulthood) can be met with confidence and self assurance.

History Class Grade Book....

If students visit the grade book, they will see grades that are in the category of Class Work. 

These Class Work grades are weighted as 0. 

These grades measure a students ability to practice or prepare for the graded assignments. 

Sometimes, these Class Work grades are "Team Grades" which can sometimes misrepresent the "individual" student's ability or involvement. 

For example, if my son is on the Blue Team and only 1/2 of his team submits the Practice Lesson in on time, the team score might reflect a less than satisfactory grade in the grade book. 

Again, these grades do not count against the individual student, they simply reflect the overall collaboration of the Team.