1. Why can a piano student not learn to play "the right way" using a
Beatles tune?
2. There is no THE right way to teach.
3. Some teachers' "own thing" is far, far more effective, meaningful,
interesting, and motivating than a scripted lesson that purports to be
"the right thing."
Renee
On Feb 22, 2009, at 10:26 AM, Debbie Goodis wrote:
Hello,
I had to jump in here. My two cents. I used to take piano as a child.
I would go to my lessons and then come back home, practice for 5
minutes and proceed to "do my own thing." My father would scold me and
say, "Learn to play the right way, then you can play anyway you want!"
I knew what he meant. I was complaining that I had to play, Fur Elise,
or some other classical piece when all I wanted to play was Joni
Mitchell or The Beatles. He wanted me to learn HOW TO PLAY, get that
foundation, and then move on to making my own music. He was right...it
was a good foundation. I think the same goes for scripts. I used to
hate them, too, but I understand why the powers that be think they are
necessary. Too many teachers are doing "their own thing," when they
should be aware of research about good teaching. Scripts make sure we
"learn to teach the right way" so that we can then incorporate those
techniques and make them our own. I am a thinking teacher like all of
you and when I am observed I am never using "the script" but I always
get compliments on how well the students are engaged and thinking. No
one has ever corrected the words I used during a lesson. We use a
scripted program, but like all of you, I learned more from Lucy
Calkins and Debbie Miller. I mostly use the "scripts" from those
experts and like I said, I've never been corrected. With all that
said, I know there are principals who wouldn't like anything other
than the script being used during a lesson. That is unfortunate, and
it tells me that those individuals are NOT thinking either! Hope that
helps..
________________________________
From: "teach2h...@aol.com" <teach2h...@aol.com>
To: mosaic@literacyworkshop.org
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 2:59:15 PM
Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] scripts and thinking
In a message dated 2/20/2009 12:23:56 PM Eastern Standard Time,
mosaic-requ...@literacyworkshop.org writes:
think scripts have a place for some teachers especially if
Just food for thought:) Did any of us in our journey through learning
how to
teach comprehension strategies and transforming our classrooms into
literate
rich communities ever use "Debbie Millers script"? "Did you say over
and over
again "So, how did that help you as a reader?" so many times that you
felt it
was a recording? Possibly, but I bet you moved on to even deeper
conversation. You moved on with your readers and where they were in
their journey. I
sure did use those scripts and sometimes still do. . . especially
when something
is still new to me. But, I am a thinking teacher and appreciate
Debbie and
Lucy's words as a model and use them until they become comfortable and
become my own versions. . . until I am able to move past them and
mold my own
words according to the readers I am with and their needs. Thank you
so much Lucy
for giving me the "think about reading worker script I love to use!
Thank you
so much to the "Learning Pad" site that has some wonderful scripting.
I did
not think of any of these great ideas, but used the ideas to aide my
own
understanding and thinking. Do we not provide scripts for our own
readers in our
classroom as we model conversations in reader's share each day?
Eventually,
they are asking these same questions of others and more importantly of
themselves when they think about their thinking. "Scripts" can have
their place in
learning. Starting with a script of some sort doesn't mean one is
going to rely
on them always but is just using it as a jumping point. Some may not
ever need
them, some may. Just my thoughts.
Cynthia Hart
Lexington
**************Need a job? Find an employment agency near you.
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"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make."
~ John Lennon / Paul McCartney ~ Carry That Weight
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