[etni] The Log - our experience

From: Louise -Lipert Maery <lu_mmm@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Etni <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2011 01:58:30 -0400
Since we are all sharing, I thought I would let you all read our experience 
this year with the LOG. I and a colleague at school have been doing the Log 
this year with our Yud 5 point classes. While it is 5 points I can tell you 
that in both classes the students range from weak 4 points to near native 
speakers. 
Yes - it is a lot of work, preparing the lessons and checking the Logs. We also 
have students who havent completed everything. One of our students threw out 
all his work. However, we decided beforehand what our policy would be, we wrote 
to the students and had them sign that they read and understood what was 
required before we started the program, and (knock on wood) we havent had any 
problems yet - even from the students who are failing. 
Overall, we've had a great experience. We did a lot of work and what we liked 
was the fact that the kids were reading, writing, having discussions, and 
learning about subjects they would normally not be exposed to. Teaching them 
the HOTS hasnt been a big deal - we keep it short and simple. Sometimes they 
get confused between them - so we discuss the differences. Sometimes they 
surprise us by naming a HOTS spontaneously from a discussion we are having in 
class  - without us even asking for it. 
Of course the kids gripe throughout the process - "its boring" (Ive now banned 
that word from the classroom), "we're sick of it" etc. But interestingly, when 
asked to write a reflection on the whole process so far - 90% wrote that they 
loved it. They said that they loved the fact it wasnt another Bagrut Exam - 
that they really enjoyed the work - and see the progress they've made to their 
writing.
For next year - we are preparing our own "text book" -- which we hope will help 
them organize their work better. This will also help us review the Logs more 
efficiently. Its  a ton of work - but its also very creative.
I have no idea what next year will bring with a new class. Perhaps we will have 
a totally opposite experience. But so far, so good. One last point - I highly 
recommend that even if you do the exam - that the students keep a Log so that 
they have a resource to go to when preparing for the exam. 
Louise
[etni] The Log - our experience

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