What my class thinks about Power Teaching/Learning
November13
I asked my class what they liked and disliked about the Power Teaching that we’ve been doing for the past week.
Likes
- specific rules – for different reasons
- Teach-OK
- them getting a chance to lead the rules
- the gestures
- the Teacher
- all of it
- smilies
- oh-yeah!
Dislikes
- frownies
- oh-no
- one person didn’t like the rules
- several didn’t like the box below scoreboard (for habitual offenders)
- one person didn’t like the reward – and had a group of children tell him to choose something else
- the teacher saying the rules (because they like to say them
- sitting on the mat to do any of it
Sitting on the MAT!
That prompted me to do a survey of the children who were there (only 22 as several were out with NEMP stuff, home sick or out doing other stuff).
- 17/22 would prefer to sit in their desks
- 3/22 like to sit on the mat
- 2/22 don’t mind either
So NOW what do I do? Eliminate all but small group work & play on the mat? Make them sit on the mat?
Ideas welcome!
Hi Jo
Ahhh variety is the spice of life. I say sit them at their desks for a time and then on the mat too. There is a time for the desks and a time to speak more intimately with them on the mat. They don’t like the mat when we as teachers overdo it.
Hey Jamin – we had some fun and i got them to redesign where there seats went – unbelievably they wanted rows – so we reorganised – but there is a large mat area to use as well – we’ll see how it all goes
Hey Jamin, I haven’t read your blog for a while but this post interested me. I’ve used elements of Power Teaching in my classroom – gestures and getting children’s attention. I believe more in the no rewards approach (www.marvinmarshall.com). My kids have also said they don’t like spending a lot of time on the floor/mat. Maybe you could try acting out the rules rather than sitting and saying them as another option. Just a thought, have a great day!
Hey Jo,
sorry it took me so long to come by your blog. I love the fact that you did a survey and found out what they like and dislike about the approach. You can definitely use their opinions as a tool to improve theie their experiences and understandings of Power Teaching and why you do certain things the way you do.
As far as the desk vs. mat, have you thought of using desk/mat time as a reward for those who prefer to sit there? I’m not sure which one you do regularly, but if its the desk, then make a reward for the scoreboard, the game or whatever the normal reward is, but they get to sit on the mat while they play. Does that make sense? I’m not sure!
I just read your blog and see that you’ve realised the same thing as me – PT as management isn’t the same as PT as engagement … i need to keep looking for the engagement angle …