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A HUGE issue revealed by today's "Back to School" headlines is the misconception that schoolteaching in the 21st century involves little more than Victorian-style lecturing.
"Why," they ask, "is distancing in schools such a big ask?"
A thread. 1/x
#schoolsreopening #teaching
"Why," they ask, "is distancing in schools such a big ask?"
A thread. 1/x
#schoolsreopening #teaching
I won't comment on the ability of students to follow strict social distancing measures, about the thousands who rely on public transport, about hygiene in schools. Instead, I'll simply talk you through an average lesson and highlight features that newspapers have ignored. 2/x
To start with, students never simply apparate fully-formed at the desks. Would that it were so. Instead they must enter through door (this could be wedged open to prevent contamination via the handle) and sit as desks that have been and will be used by other students. 3/x
Kids forget things. Adults, too. But when adults forget things, teachers are rarely called on to help. In schools, if little Eric or Anita have forgotten pens or books, I will often give one of my own, or ask if a friend can share with them. The lesson has not yet begun. 4/x
Every second matters between bells. It's how we're trained. I usually enlist student helpers to hand out resources, "give everyone a sheet," "pass these around" etc. These *could* be laid out on individual desks in advance, yes, but this is rarely possible. 5/x
The lesson begins! But good teaching isn't simply a teacher standing at the front of the class, a safe distance away, lecturing while the kids make perfect notes. (I know, I was shocked too.) Instead, we're required to provide a mixture of tasks for a range of abilities... 6/x
That doesn't pose a problem by itself, except for the fact that lessons need to be kept engaging through a mixture of individual, paired, and group activities. Collaborative work is a norm across subjects - it enhances problem-solving and improves learning! 7/x
So let's say that I begin with a group discussion. I might ask students to write their answers on a note and stick it to a wall or the whiteboard. Maybe I'll then shift to a paired piece of work - joint annotation, a "jigsaw activity" - to help scaffold their learning. 8/x
Where am I while they're all working wonderfully? Well, I need to check their work, offer support, give praise! I navigate between desks ("budge in, Archie"), read over shoulders. A hand shoots up: "sir, I need help." I sit at their desk and I help. Teacher work *with* kids. 9/x
Them they share ideas. I like to get my students to write on the board, sharing my board markers. Then onto individual work - what have they learnt from today? Do they know more now than they did before? I circulate, observing, helping, whispering advice, confiscating phones.10/x
I didn't notice Angela sticking her chewing gum under the desk. Nobody's perfect. Another student will find it next lesson, then not wash her hands for an hour. 11/x
Lesson's nearly over! Now my students swap their work and peer assess (peer assessment, by the way, is de rigeur in schools - and is often very useful!). Swapping books, pens, moving around... 10/x
Finally the bell goes. Tables are cleared, pens returned, bags and books dropped and picked up. I give the go-ahead, holds the door open as they leave. The bustle of students rush to next period, into a corridor full of moving parts... 11/x
The next class (released early from another lesson) stand outside, waiting. As they enter, someone from the previous group dashes back in, "I forgot my bag!" then scarpers off. The next class take their still-warm seats. I haven't had time to wash my hands between periods. 12/x
Some of this *could* be altered in line with social distancing. Some activities *could* be removed altogether (and students' learning would invariably suffer as a result), but plenty of this simply can't be adjusted. Will all classes become in-person Zoom meetings? 13/x
In short, schools don't need "heroes". They need logic.
