http://www.edwize.org/learning-from-fairy-tales Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:46:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= http://www.edwize.org/learning-from-fairy-tales/comment-page-1#comment-65824 tasha Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:05:14 +0000 http://edwize.org/learning-from-fairy-tales#comment-65824 PS I failed to say brava, nay, bravissima! You are an inspiration. Your students are very fortunate to have you for a teacher. I am profoundly jealous. PS I failed to say brava, nay, bravissima! You are an inspiration. Your students are very fortunate to have you for a teacher. I am profoundly jealous.

]]> http://www.edwize.org/learning-from-fairy-tales/comment-page-1#comment-65823 tasha Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:04:10 +0000 http://edwize.org/learning-from-fairy-tales#comment-65823 I have founded a school in Palo Alto, California that needs teachers just like you. The qualities of intellectual freedom balanced by academic rigor that you demonstrate in this piece are extremely difficult to find in teachers here. Do you have any advice for me on where to find teachers like you, who would like to spend some time in Northern California? I have founded a school in Palo Alto, California that needs teachers just like you. The qualities of intellectual freedom balanced by academic rigor that you demonstrate in this piece are extremely difficult to find in teachers here. Do you have any advice for me on where to find teachers like you, who would like to spend some time in Northern California?

]]> http://www.edwize.org/learning-from-fairy-tales/comment-page-1#comment-65761 progressiveteacher81 Thu, 29 May 2008 01:59:44 +0000 http://edwize.org/learning-from-fairy-tales#comment-65761 It is so important that you draw attention to this issue of preparation! Teaching, at least at my school, is such a crucial combination of preparation and spontaneity. In our study, the first day was, as you pointed out, only prepared in that I knew the body of literature very well that I put out on the table. I had read every one of the books before hand and thought previously about assignments that one could do with them. The rest of the project was a combination of very detailed plans (books chosen long ahead of time, assignments mapped out, goals set forth) and the freedom (and the prior knowledge) to switch gears to meet the students' learning curve. Knowing that I wanted children to investigate familiar literature beforehand, read texts from different places, and think about how these texts could be re-written was planned from almost day one. The sources used were mostly ones I also knew from the start of the study. On the other hand, with these goals in mind, lessons changed regularly - sometimes the day before, often the day of, and even mid-lesson. To be successful where I work, one must know subject matter deeply -- deep enough, to switch directions, when the wind blows. It is so important that you draw attention to this issue of preparation! Teaching, at least at my school, is such a crucial combination of preparation and spontaneity. In our study, the first day was, as you pointed out, only prepared in that I knew the body of literature very well that I put out on the table. I had read every one of the books before hand and thought previously about assignments that one could do with them. The rest of the project was a combination of very detailed plans (books chosen long ahead of time, assignments mapped out, goals set forth) and the freedom (and the prior knowledge) to switch gears to meet the students’ learning curve. Knowing that I wanted children to investigate familiar literature beforehand, read texts from different places, and think about how these texts could be re-written was planned from almost day one. The sources used were mostly ones I also knew from the start of the study. On the other hand, with these goals in mind, lessons changed regularly – sometimes the day before, often the day of, and even mid-lesson. To be successful where I work, one must know subject matter deeply — deep enough, to switch directions, when the wind blows.

]]> http://www.edwize.org/learning-from-fairy-tales/comment-page-1#comment-65492 nycityteacher Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:04:09 +0000 http://edwize.org/learning-from-fairy-tales#comment-65492 Out of curiosity, why did you only plan two minutes before class? I'm worried that this last-minute stuff makes us look bad... Out of curiosity, why did you only plan two minutes before class? I’m worried that this last-minute stuff makes us look bad…

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