The new traditional way of teaching

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Home : 2003 : September : 11

The new traditional way of teaching
By BN

You have valid points. Drill and kill or too many worksheets is the reason (I believe) the no worksheet rule came about. Too many times children were given worksheets as busy work or worksheets were given in isolation and
the skills were not transferred to other areas. But to have no paper and pencil work does not help the student retain material.Students have different learning styles. Some learn by hearing. Others are visual etc.For example spelling words-- look at the word, say the word, write the word.(Remember sky writing)Old fashioned but it does follow learning styles.Research shows the more senses

that are used the more the student will remember the material.If the object is to have students remember certain material for a standardized test why not have them write definitions or say them aloud. I think the problem started with teachers not varying the work the students were given. Every week writing out SS definitions may be counter productive.They need to know how to find material because of the large content in subjects.Practicing using the glossary is the one way to accomplish this. To tie it all together I would say a good teacher would mix and match different techniques(hands on, paper and pencil,projects, groupwork, worksheets etc) with her/his class to make learning happen for all students. A teacher knows her/his students and what that need. Teaching/learning should be dynamic not stagnent. If one technique is not successful then a good teacher will try another.Again I think the problem started with some teachers not being able to change to their students' needs. We must back up our practices with ed. research and student achievement. If we can do that then we should be trusted as professionals to know what is best for our students. Just because some practice is not the newest does not mean it is invalid. When you have been in teaching long enough you will see old techniques making a come back. They maybe changed a bit but they will be back as long as research show they work. It's the new and improve old technique.

This turned out to be a long response to the OP. I would say to keep on doing what you are doing if it's successful with your students and back it up with achievement and research. Mix it up with other techniques. See what works.

Some replies to OP comments:

I think all teachers do something very showy when they are observed.LOL

Group work is hard to establish in some classrooms.(You mentioned your group works better by themselves)Some times the group dynamics make it difficult for cooperative learning to take place.It has to be highly structured at first for children to get the hang of it.Try modeling how the students should behave and work in a group.If you start early in the year you might get it to run smoothly by spring. To have groups run smoothly and accomplish the objective takes practice.

O.k. this is long enough for now.