Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Oceanside, CA
Posts: 5181

Tal Tales
Teaching

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: East Bay
Posts: 3383

Tal, I know the feeling. In high school, I guess it's a bit different because you get lots of kids full of apathy given that school at their age is compulsory. I was there earlier this year with both my senior and freshmen English classes. And, I too, was wondering if I just plum didn't know how to teach. I had given study guides. I had gone over the material many times. Heck, there were times when I stood there with the test in my hands and read the questions to them, giving them the answers. Still, the scores were rather atrocious. I once heard that in order for a concept to sink in, a student should practice it seven times. I figured they'd had enough practice with test-taking. It wasn't taking the test that was the problem. It was the critical thinking aspect of the whole thing. The students were bombing any questions that had to do with thinking...going beyond straight memorization. I just hunkered down and tried to teach the kids how to think. On the surface, it appeared to have nothing to do with our English curriculum. Had the superintendent walked in, I'd probably have been called in or something (he's an ass...that's for another time). But, it has worked. Today, I gave out a pop quiz to my seniors on the first half of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Not a single student scored below 70%. The way I see it, if the kids are good at memorization, you've got to get them learning how to think. Then again, my situation could be completely different from yours. At least know that I get what you're feeling. Good luck, man.

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: in colorado somewhere!
Posts: 26791

It's the drugs,man.
The drugs.

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: in colorado somewhere!
Posts: 26791

I probably would have learned a lot more in school if only the teachers.....

To be continued.

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Registered: Dec 2004
Location: Beringia
Posts: 5397

Study and critical thinking skills are difficult to aquire. I think flocat has the right idea. You have to know haw to think before you can really learn anything. I also think making clases on this mandatory at the grade school level would be a good idea.

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