Culture Nov 2012- Feb 2013: Assignment #1: Listen to the following article and write a 2-3 sentence response. Also, comment on one other person's response. http://www.npr.org/blogs/...
I liked this story and last year I saw much of what was described in my classroom. When I took over an existing class in November I had to set up a new culture for my classroom. I tried to create an environment where it was safe to fail but my students were very resistant. If they weren't successful at once they were embarrassed or ready to quit.
However, by the end of the year, after many conversations most were willing to keep working and they had learned that by trying and explaining what they had done that they often found and fixed their errors themselves.
Jim Stigler's observations relate what I hear in my classroom. I know science is a dfficult,but I hear students comment something is hard before try. I had a professor say he would never hire someone who had straight A's because that person wasn't willing to risk. I agree with Stigler, "Willing to work and struggle focuses on the process of not giving up". Stuggles with success develops confidence.
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