This past week in the classroom students have started working
on their Social Studies Curriculum Based Assessment essays. The challenge with
this work is that students are at this point in the quarter- the last two
weeks- where they have disengaged, mentally checked out and a good portion are completely
resistant to participating in class. I can’t really blame them because I feel
the same exact way with my own college courses.
The
challenge in my class is the learning gap. There is a defined group of students
who excel and do well, but its marginal from the larger group that does not
fully comprehend the objectives nor do they speak up when they need help until
they are asked. With this range in the class, my coordinating teacher and I
find ourselves spread thin, trying to re-explain how the lesson that had just
been taught. Some students catch on to what were telling them, but a handful
just brush us off and say “I have to go to summer school anyways!” and that
fact can be discouraging not only to the students but to us, the teachers, as well
because it feels fruitless- we want to see them succeed and its difficult to
see them just give up!
Another
challenge is the lack of alignment between the CBA essay and the English class
content. The ability to brainstorm, research, and write an essay is lacking so
much so that I had to teach a lesson of formatting an essay in addition to
previous lessons taught over the quarter. Its very redundant for students who
get it and remember talking about it but news to those who don’t. The best alternative
is to separate the class and develop depth to the essays of those who are at
the finish line and aid those who need the basics discussed more. Having the two learning groups together really
prevents students from wanting to admit that they’re not part of that top group.
I learned
that unfortunately everyone, students and teachers, all feel that end of the
school year drag and it is killer to trying to finish up leftover work and
lessons. My greatest take away is making sure to lesson plan all first year of
teaching because its important not just to stay on track but to know how to
adjust to requirements like the CBA. Rushing the essays at the end is crippling
for students who don’t finish and I don’t want to put my students or myself in
that position.
Captain Raschko, signing off.
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