I think the main concept being debated here isn't curricula, but the idea of high expectations, potential student failure and learning from that failure. I feel I have extremely high expectations in all my classes (computers, general music and band, grades 2-8). I have had several instances where students didn't meet these expectations and as a result, received grades that were much lower than what they were used to. Cue the parent phone call, notes, classroom teacher complaint, etc. After I explained my expectations and my philosophy of allowing students to fail in order to push them to succeed, most parents understand and begin to push their child harder. In all cases, when I talked to the student before the parent received the grade, they understood and could explain what happened and admitted they didn't work as hard as they could have, turn in all their work, etc.
It's not the subject that matters, it's the old-fashioned concept of working hard, admitting and accepting failure and "pulling yourself up by the bootstraps" and trying harder to succeed next time that is actually being proposed here. Too bad we got away from it in the first place.
Living in Dialogue: Algebra for All 8th Graders: Dropout Cure?
No comments:
Post a Comment