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Richard Ledingham

Thursday 11 May 2006

Yesterday

Well after all that preparation the lessons were....alright, with the exception of one which was a total nightmare! A low ability set of first years on a baking hot day, just after lunch. The class wouldn't settle....and despite the relatively simple tasks and instructions none were prepared to actually listen...they were sitting quietly and looking at me but didn't seem to take in a word I said. Getting them to colour in an area on a contour map was difficult!

What made this lesson even more distressing was the presence of 3 pupils who I doubt should be in mainstream schooling. Apparently their parents insist that they stay despite warnings that it is not helping their child and is actually dragging the rest of the class down. Inclusion works for some students and it can work extremely well...but for some it will never work and it is unfair on all involved (the pupil, classmates, staff) for them to be kept in that environment.

As I descended into the staff base head in hands wondering why on earth I wanted to be a teacher I sat and stared at the pile of work on my desk. And then, as if by magic, the concert band started to rehearse nextdoor and struck up a fine version of the "Muppet Show" theme tune. A huge smile crept across my face and I got stuck in to the work. Needless to say the lesson from hell helped me to put into perspective the importance of resources and the use of personality. For some reason on this placement I started to hide my personality and thought that wonderful worksheets were the way forward. They're not. Children see worksheets all the time and to be honest don't care if you spent 3 hours the night before making it accurate and attractive. What they appreciate is a chariasmatic and enthusiastic teacher who will have a bit of a laugh and make the work relevant and interesting.

Today

So a change in approach today. Some resources and lots of personality. Much to my relief it had the desired effect. Don't get me wrong they weren't perfect lessons (and I imagine anyone who thinks that they teach a perfect lesson is delusional) but the pupils responded really well to the tasks and worked with me and not for me (and most importantly not against me either!) My first 3rd year class were actually enthusiastic about the coal industry....slightly worrying! Introducing it as relevant due to its importance in where we came from as an industrialsed nation helped. My other 3rd had a decent debate about whether or not people should drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. By supplying the pupils with a top ten list of reasons for and against I was able to entice out of the pupils a coherent debate with some passionate responses. One of the two second year classes were sitting a test (nice and easy...now for the marking) whilst the other set began a mini unit on the Mediterranean.

We were also told by the Regent that HMIE are coming to the school to interview the placement students about the placement scheme...should be interesting!

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