Submitted by Stephen Hurley (not verified) on July 18, 2007 - 17:48.
I've been hangin' out at the edge of my grade 8 classroom for the past couple of years, watching to see who would show up. It didn't take long for those students that had been labelled by the system as "slow", or "reluctant" or "at risk" or "gifted" to come by. In working with them throughout the year, I realized that there are so many of our students who just don't fit into the system!
I was away from the classroom for aout 10 years, working in our district's curriculum department, teaching at a Faculty of Education...trying to tell others how to do this thing called teaching. Truth is that, even after 24 years of experience, I'm not really sure I know what it's all about.
I came to work for a principal this year that wanted to start a School of the Arts for Grade 7 and 8 students. I accepted the challenge as an opportunity to explore some ideas about teaching and learning and how the arts could become a central part of that process. We decided that our initiative was not going to be an elite, auditioned-based program. Instead, we want to frame our project so that it captures those students that hang out on the edges of school. We want to create a home for these students.
I'm more than happy to keep you posted on the initiative. I just thought that I would let you know that Diane's article resonated with me for a whole new set of reasons!
Hanging out at the edge of school
Submitted by Stephen Hurley (not verified) on July 18, 2007 - 17:48.
I've been hangin' out at the edge of my grade 8 classroom for the past couple of years, watching to see who would show up. It didn't take long for those students that had been labelled by the system as "slow", or "reluctant" or "at risk" or "gifted" to come by. In working with them throughout the year, I realized that there are so many of our students who just don't fit into the system!
I was away from the classroom for aout 10 years, working in our district's curriculum department, teaching at a Faculty of Education...trying to tell others how to do this thing called teaching. Truth is that, even after 24 years of experience, I'm not really sure I know what it's all about.
I came to work for a principal this year that wanted to start a School of the Arts for Grade 7 and 8 students. I accepted the challenge as an opportunity to explore some ideas about teaching and learning and how the arts could become a central part of that process. We decided that our initiative was not going to be an elite, auditioned-based program. Instead, we want to frame our project so that it captures those students that hang out on the edges of school. We want to create a home for these students.
I'm more than happy to keep you posted on the initiative. I just thought that I would let you know that Diane's article resonated with me for a whole new set of reasons!