Wong

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2003 : September : 20

Wong
By Tena Linsbeck-Perron

Guess what? My students did do just this! Actually, I had to attend my brother-in-laws burial. It was a horrible time. I had left earlier at lunch. The principal of our school came to me the next day and explained that the
coverage that was supposed be there for my students (6,7,8th multi-age) did not show up. My kids came into class, got their writng folders and worked on their memoirs. The principal walked by 20 minutes into the class and realized the person did not show. She told me later she was dumbfounded to find my kids totally on task. They (the kids) told me later that they were not sure what to

do but decided to just go ahead and do what they knew I expected from them. Keep in mind they are multi-age and are used to working together to get things done. The principal got to spend the afternoon with some pretty awesome kids! I did feel that Wong's book, while it had some good ideas was a little unrealistic in the scheme of things. It almost seemed...I don't know... almost as if they believed their techniques were the only way. And it seems rigid to a point. One thing I have learned about teaching is that flexiblity goes a long way and rigidity can (sp!?!)backfire.