I have to keep reminding myself that one size, of anything, does not fit all. I have to remind myself of this when not all my students come to me loving Science. When not all my students want to make a video to show what they are learning. When not all my students want to learn Prezi. When not all my students learn well working independently. When not all my students are motivated by having choice. Get the idea?
But I also have to remind myself of this when I’m sitting in a keynote and something is presented as the next best things. We all say that there are no silver bullets that will solve all problems that arise in the classroom but when we present great things that are happening I see that often ideas are presented as being good for everyone. It kind of comes across as being so good that we should all do it. NOW! Very few things work for 100% of all students in all my classes.
Hearing that something is so good that I have to do it NOW (or my impression of it) makes me nervous because then I feel like I HAVE TO DO THAT in my classes right away!! I start to think furiously about what I need to give up or move around to make way for the next best thing. At one of the keynotes from this year’s NCCE conference and at the exhibit floor and during one of the events the whole Maker Movement, DIY, idea was being shared and presented. I have to admit, I’m much more comfortable creating things on a computer than I am with physical tools. Honestly, I would rather pay a professional to fix things in my house than fiddling around myself and possibly messing it up. It’s not something I enjoy. So when I have students make things I provide emotional support more than helpful support because I’m truly a side-by-side learner with them when it comes to making things with my hands.
As with anything though I have learned that even something as cool as making things by hands isn’t motivating or easy for everyone. In a ROLE classroom, where kids are given ch0ice as to how they show learning or even how they learn, isn’t it okay for some to choose to do only things they are comfortable at or good at? I do encourage my students to do things that aren’t easy for them or that take them out of their comfort zone. I don’t want to force them though. That is 0ne of the balancing acts teachers have to do, encourage kids to do things they don’t want to do without forcing them (even though sometimes I’m sure kids will see it as forcing them).
So I’m going to give myself the okay to not stress over having my kids make things that I haven’t already included in this year’s plan of activities. I’m not going to say we won’t be making things, I’m just going to give myself time to think about what fits with what we’re learning. Besides, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) include engineering so we’ll be incorporating more and more building and making as we re-think our existing curricula.
