[etni] Fw: re: HOTS in action
- From: "Ask_Etni" <ask@xxxxxxxx>
- To: "ETNI" <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 10:08:04 +0200
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ganiel" <ganiel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: HOTS in action
Dear Colleagues,
I have refrained from writing to the list as some of my collegues (Mitzi,
Avi and Adele in particular) have written exactly what I would have written.
This week we had a mini-Etai in Beit Yerach which was beautifully orgainized
by Aviva Shapiro and her great staff. I presented the way I had taught the
poem "Mending Wall" this year to my 12th grade 5 pointers. I was in the
pilot program and am continuing the program in my present 11th grade class.
The participants saw that I taught literature with "soul" and love. The
thinking skills were skills we had always used but now we name them
explicitly and ask the students to try to use them in other contexts as well
(Bridging text and context). The presentation was well received and it did
much to qualm the fears and apprehension of many of the teachers present.
We had to do a final Reflection compostion with our students in this pilot
program. I too was surprised and pleased to see the very positive comments
from the boys I teach. They enjoyed the literature and the thinking skills
and were able to see how many of these skills could be applied to other
areas of studies and life in general.
I can also say that the refelctions, feedback and comments from those of in
the pilot were taken into serious consideration by Judy Steiner and her
Steering Committee and things were changed during the year (and in this
year's courses) as a result of our comments. This was a great feeling to
know that Judy listened to us and accepted our proposals for changes. Kol
Hakavod to her and her committee!!!
What I can suggest is that when there is a teachers' conference (upcoming
Spring, mini-Etai, Summer Conference) go to a session on literature given by
one of us who was in the pilot program. See how we taught the material, see
the exercises, ask questions and I promise you that many many of your
worries will disappear.
Yes--it was more work--but so is using a new textbook for the first time. I
feel the tremendous difference with my present 11th graders. I know the
approach, feel comfortable with it and it just "flows". The important thing
is that literature, which many of us wanted as a major part of English, is
now seen as an important part of the Bagrut by the students. It's now 27%
of the Bagrut grade and not 30% of the yearly ("magen") grade. So
please--make your comments from actual knowledge and from experience and
after learning from some of us "pilot teachers" and our actual, in class,
experience.
Thank you and good luck to you all. Shelly Ganiel
-----------------------------------------------
** Etni homepage - http://www.etni.org
or - http://www.etni.org.il **
** for help - ask@xxxxxxxx **
** to post to this list - etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx **
-----------------------------------------------
Other related posts: