Inquiry-based science...
Shandi,
I have been in many classrooms where "feelings have taken over the instruction and clouded the student's view of inquiry instruction and the teacher's ability to implement it. It is ... See More
Shandi,
I have been in many classrooms where "feelings have taken over the instruction and clouded the student's view of inquiry instruction and the teacher's ability to implement it. It is interesting to note that the article mentioned the fear that teachers have of losing control of their classroom. Unfortunately, the fear is very real and the classrooms for some teachers and their students have become a battle ground of sort. The struggle is centered around "who is in control". In the article it does note that this fear has held some teachers at bay form using this strategy. The article clearly stated how the Science Management Observation Protocol (SMOP) uses this research to conduct structured observations of classroom practices (fig. 1pg.32) as an assessment.
It addressed the five different management issues (classroom characteristics/routines, safety, care/use of materials, collaboration and use of time and transitions) and how they affect the effectiveness of the strategy. The mention of teachers being able to manage groups is very important for those of us dealing with students with disabilities and IEP requirements.
It didn't focus or specifically recommend one technique but is does encourage that teachers be educated in safety precautions (per the NSTA) and it highlights the need for students and teachers to take ownership of their classroom and feel free to "bounce ideas off of each other as they make observations, raise questions, design investigatins, and construct knowledge." The emphasis on the concern for the lack of student participation was worth noting. This strategy involves alot of time spent on hands on activities and consequently, a problem exists when students tend to want to socialize because they are not in a more structured or controlled environment.
Although every situation can't be regulated and there is no one reason why a classroom cannot be managed successfully, It is encouraging to know that stategies and support does exist. This read was very interesting and the information should prove very useful when the time comes for new teachers, like myself, to effectively manage our own classrooms.