Joe Blow mailto:jblow@attbi.com

i think that it is very hard job being a teacher. You must be very patienent and flexable and ready for anything especially when prodject dont work out the way you planned. You have to be prepared for the children to see things differently than you thought they would.

As I was watching the video, I was trying to imagine myself and what I would do in this situation. I realized that though the children had good ideas, sometimes it may not work out. Yet the kids might be stuck on the idea that they had come up with and wanted to do. As a teacher I will need to figure out some way to get the child to compromise with me on the project, or warn them in the future about what would happen if things didn't work out the way they were suppossed to.

Edited by author 01-28-2003 12:11 PM
I try and put myself in that situation(coming from a teacher's perspective)and it must be really tough. Children, as much as we'd like them to, don't always think like teachers and it can be tough at times when we can't get them to do something or make them understand why things are done the way they are. When I see teachers like this one, I get a nice feeling knowing that there are good teachers still out there. I think that having access to computers is a wonderful idea. Children are having to grow up in a world where technology has become a part of everyday life activities. I'm not too sure about being very helpful to my students when it comes to computers but I'm willing to learn what it takes. When I have my classroom I will try and limit the use of computers for games and maybe for certain lessons, but not so that it takes over the teacher. The teaching should be done by the teacher and not the computer.

I thought this video was very interesting. It shows how children's projects don't always work out and that if it doesn't, they must improvise. I think the teacher was very helpful with his ideas, but one of the kids didn't really care because it wasn't going to turn out exactly how he wanted it. I think this is going to happen in the classroom many times in my teaching career, and I hope I can find a way to resolve the problem, like the teacher in the video did.

I think that it was a very tough situation that the teacher was in and I try to put myself in that situation. Personally, I think that I would give that individual a deadline because although students should learn the importance of a deadline and that it isn't fair to everyone else to extend a deadline to someone else, but sometimes there are things in a child's life that may have occurred that takes predecent over having their homework done in class and it's very important that we don't turn kids off from doing their homework by encouraging them that it's important to get things done by deadlines but that we are always there to help and understand.

Edited by author 01-28-2003 02:23 AM
    The learning enviorment present in this video was very realistic I thought! I felt that this video really showed how children do not always think like teachers do. Like they are not always on the same wavelength as what they are supposed to be. It takes a lot of effort to just explain things to children as simple as a class activity. It was nice to see the teacher really putting in effort to explain to this kid who wanted to use the wasp that he couldn't. He explained an alternative instead of just saying you do not get the points. I have such a horrible memory when it comes to my past, but from what i remember, my teachers were are very good about indivdually helping me with things. I have always been lucky enough to go to very good public schools and I always remember being able to ask questions and get answers. But I the technology today wasn't avalibable when I was growing up so I don't remember getting to do a lot of projects with the computer. So I think its neat that children get the oppurtunity now so they can be prepared for their futures better. In high school I do remember using a lot more technology in the classrooms so its neat to think that children are doing it at a younger age.
    I picture my ideal teaching environment would be one where I could have a lot of personal time with the child. I would want to make sure that everyone understood what was going on and that I alwyas had the time to explain to the child what was going on if they were confused. I would want to incorpate technology into the classroom but as a more fun and not necessary activity, so that the children are not afraid of the computer. I basically want a smaller class so I can make sure I always have time to help children fully understand everything.

Edited by author 01-28-2003 02:06 AM
I think that this is a great example of a challenge teachers must face everyday; a student is struggling, and the teacher must motivate and encourage them to think without telling them what to do. I think the questions he (the teacher) chose were very thought provoking and at the same time left a wide variety of possible answers open. The boy was then forced to come up with an alternative for not having a wasp and a reasoning behind why this would work. I liked how all of the kids were listening carefully to what the teacher said, and were able to figure it out on their own. Linda Darling gave a great explanation of how to handle the situation based upon the duties of the teacher.
As a student I was faced with challenges and they were not always presented to me in such a way that I was able to truly learn from, like in the video. As a teacher, I would like to give my students this kind of enviorment, a sort of group learning situation. The students in the video seemed much more enthusiastic about solving the problem than a student sitting by themself trying to figure it out.

Teachers will run into the problem of a students not having their work done all the time. The way the teacher deals with the situation is what matters. In the case that they have to have it done because they will be live on the internet the next day is no different than having a deadline due for grades. I have had both kinds of teachers the ones that don't care what kind of excuse you may have and the ones that are understanding and will allow you to extend your deadlines. No matter what the case is, I think it is important for students to learn about deadlines because they will have to deal with them all their lives. And if they get used to their teacher telling them it is ok if you are a little bit late then they might not learn the concept of deadlines.

In the third grade I had this great teacher that brought in silk worms to go along with our china unit. We got to watch them grow and see what they ate. After they made their cocoons, the ones that didn't hatch we unwound the silk and fond out how the Chinese got the silk from it. It is these kinds of hands on experiences that make learning fun. When kids have fun there is a better chance that they will remember it later on. Teachers that go that extra step are the good ones. Seeing teachers like that is what made me want to be a teacher in the first place. I wanted to be able to help all these kids and show them that learning can still be fun.

Every teacher will experience this situation a hundred times. A student was, for one reason or another, not able to complete an assignment and the teacher is placed in the position of deciding what to do. Do we extend a deadline for anyone or everyone or based on each circumstance or do we hold firm to our deadline? As a teacher, it's important to show the students that we are the ones in charge and that in the real world, you simply can't not get something done on time. But as teachers we also have a certain amount of compassion and understanding. In this situation, I believe that the teacher did the appropriate thing and the student will have to do the assignment with the little information he has.

This video showed how the teacher dealt with a student who did not understand. From time to time this can happen to many of us. The teacher tried to explain that the bee could be a representative of the wasp but the student did not understand and wanted a wasp. As teachers we have to learn to have patience and try to explain things so that the students really do understand. I thought that maybe the fact that they were a little under pressure since they were going to go on-line soon the student felt even more frustrated.

      After watching this video and analyzing how Jim the teacher approached his student Albert, I gained good understanding of the correct way to handle this awkward and possibly difficult situation. Jim did not alter his original rules on this project, even if it were for a particular case. He did not let Albert have an extension for this project for it would change what he previous laid down as the guidelines, which the child clearly knew. Though I see completely why the teacher did this and admire him for his authority, I feel sad for the child's situation. If I were put in the teacher’s position today I unfortunately would have let Albert have his way, and give him an extension. After watching this, I hope to be less compassionate and more authorial like. Jim did a good job of maintaining his professional role, but being open to understanding the child's feelings and his comments.
 Jim reminds me a lot of my 6th grade teacher. He seemed so mean and stubborn, that I even cried one time. He would never change the assignment for me, or let me slide for doing "ok, but not my best" of work. Now looking back on it I can see why he was the way he was. I wanted things to go my way, not his. However, he knew how well I could do, and encouraged me kindly and compassionately, yet maintained an authorial role. For though he was known as the strict Mr. Fitch, he was and is till this day known as one of the best teachers in my town.
 Though 6th grade was one of the hardest years I have ever faced, the continual support of my teacher, Mr. Fitch formed me into who I am today; a hardworking young lady who strives for only the best. This man, other wise known as “daddy” at home, is the reason I decided to become a teacher. His professional, dominant stature in the classroom is how I would like to run my classroom one day. My students will not only be children to teach, but instructors to me. Like Jim and my father I hope to only grow stronger and become a better teacher by experiencing these situations like Albert’s.

As far as the lesson goes, I was interested to see that the children were actually collecting data(bugs) and using what they found to go online. I myself was never given an opportunity like that in grade school. And as far as the teacher goes,it first seemed that the techer was being a little short with the student, considering he did not collect what he supposed to, yet was able to come back and compromise, giving him an alternate solution to was was presented. He was able to talk to the child in a way that made him think about what he was doing, rather than just looking for the right answer.

This video was very interesting. It was nice to see how the teacher was interacting with the children and he was helping them accomplish their experiment. He was asking them questions in order to help them come up with an acceptable answer. When I was in elementary school, my teachers would help me reach the right answer, but they would not give me the answer. I like how the teacher was a little harsh on the kids because it helped them strive for the answer in their experiment.

I can relate to the students when they were a little frustrated that they couldn't find a wasp. I can't tell you how many times i've not been able to complete an assignment because i was missing a piece to the puzzle. At first i thought the teacher was being a little tough, but then i realized that he was just trying to help. One of the boys didn't really understand what the teacher was saying, and the other one did. I too can relate to that because there have been some times when i've been lost or the person who is waiting for the other person to catch up. I think it's important that we get more teachers who can be more understanding and be willing to work with students and compromise.

Every elementary school has a different environment that affects its students in different ways. My middle school and high school environments were focused on getting the basics of the course over with ASAP. But my elementary environment was similar to that in the video, I noticed. My K-5 teachers were always helpful like the teacher was towards Albert. Each student was important in the teacher's eyes, and that's what I especially want the children to know about me- I feel the same way.
My ideal classroom environment would be very similar to the one in the video. The teacher wasn't very strict but wasn't very soft either. As a teacher someday, I want to be the same. The whole point of being in school is to educate as well as interact with other people. The students in my class will be taught but will have fun at the same time. Experiments and/or projects like the video's are a good idea to have in a classroom because it encourages logic and enthusiasm about different aspects of the world. And I can't wait to share the world with children.

My experience as a K-12 student and my learning environment was quite different. In elementary, we never did projects like discussed in the film. The teachers lectured, we read, and did written on paper work.In high school classes, such as biology, when we did do experiments all the supplies and things we needed to collect were eiher already present on we did it as a class.
Ilike the way that the teacher handled this situation. My ideal learning environment for my students would be similar. I would want my students and I to be on a level of respect and equality. I would want us to exchange our ideas, listen to each other, and come up with answers together that we both agree on and feel comfortable with.
I would also want my students to give me feedback.

     When I was a k-12 student I didn't have many opportunities to do experiments with any type of bugs or animals. I didn't even get to do on-line experiments. The only way I got to learn about things was by reading from a text book and getting a lecture by the teacher. I think the best way to learn about something is by exploring it yourself. What teachers call a hands-on experiment.
     In the video I think the teacher did right by telling the two boys that they needed to get everything prepared before they can do the experiment. Since they didn't they would have to come up with a alternative. My role as a teacher would be the same as the one on the video. I would listen to my students to why they didn't have what they needed on time. I would ask them what they think they should do and together we would come up with an alternative. In a learning enviorment the role of a teacher and student should be equal. Both the student and the teacher should listen to each others ideas and work together to come up with the right solution to any problem.

My experience in elemrntary school was very simular to that of what the video described. My teachers were always extreamly helpfull when it came to any matter that came up among the students. They were always there for me when I was having trouble, much like Albert. I do believe that it would have been very helpfull for Albert to view the two insects under a microscope. I do understand the frustration that was presented in the video, and hope to be able to help the kids deal with their many frustrations in my classroom.
My ideal learning envoirnment would be one simular to the one in the video. It will be filled with understanding, as well as construtive critisim. My role as a teacher would be to guide the students in a way that will be beneficial to both me as a teacher, and them as students. My students role would hopefully be one that shows intrest and determination to what is going on in the classroom.

After first viewing this it seemed that the teacher was being a little unreasonable, after I learned more of the situation I found out that he was being very fair to the two boys. He wasn't angry at them and didn't show any form of harsh feeling towards them but instead tries to work with them to come up with an alternative solution. One of the boys was having a tougher time understanding what he needed to do and was hooked on the fact that he thought he needed a wasp and that was his only way out. The teacher handled this very well and showed great composure.

 When I was in elementary school I never had to bring in insects or bugs for lab experiments. The only bug I ever brought to school for credit was a bag full of snails, this project happened to be for extra credit.
 When I first viewed the movie I thought that the teacher was being kind of mean to the two boys about not bringing in a wasp. But, after I watched the video clip another time I put myself in the teacher's position and I understand his frustration and thought that he handled the situation quite well. The children should have been more prepared. I thought that it was kind of funny how one of the boys was trying to give an exuse for not having the wasp in class. The teacher in the clip even let the children have a substitute insect, a bee, which gave them choices. I believe that during an assignment children should have the option to have choices. It makes it easier on the students to have options, as long as the teacher can in turn be flexible.
 Unfortunately in this situation the children were not prepared for the project. I believe that even though a few kids might not be prepared for a project with technology, microscopes, the rest of the class still has the right to learn from these important assignments and projects. I wish when I was in elementary school I got to experience these types of projects as the children in the movie clip did.

     While in K-12, my teachers would just provide the problem and asked me or the group I am in to solve it. The teacher would then give an examples to provide a better understanding of what need to be accomplished. When I am stuck, they would provide some examples and help lead my decision to the answer so I understand how the problem is solved and the steps.
     In the film, the teacher provide the student options and also don't force them, but let them choose on their own. The teacher also provided examples that since they're insects, bee can subsitute Wasp. The teacher wants the student to understand the concept, so thus let the student think about it.
     My ideal learning environment is one in which the students and I are both having fun learning the materials. I would give examples and also help these students build upon their own knowledge and think creatively. My role is a mentor, a teacher and also someone interesting to help them and have fun during class.

The learning enviroment in the video has some of the same charcteristics that were involved with my enviroment in the k-12 setting. Looking more at what could be done to help the student, other than complaining that it was not done correctly.
I feel that this time period that students are in school is a very important time to teach them that looking at what could be done instead of dwelling on what wasn't. This is critical in getting the student to have confidence in themselves.
An ideal school enviroment and setting is basically one that demonstrates a positive outlook on the situation at hand, comfortability, understanding and communication between the students and the teacher.
I would like to let the students have an opinion on what should be done with the situation at hand and what should be done to work it out. I think letting the children give feedback will help the teacher know if the student is understanding what is going on and let the student express his/her feelings and thoughts about the situation.
When I become a teacher, I want to be able to help my students come up with solutions that will help them understand the situation by taking it one step at a time.

The learning environment shown in the video was similar to the environment that I had while in K-12. Some of those years were more like the video than others though. I had years where my teachers expected all the students to know everything. While other years my teachers would do just what the teacher in the video did.
Albert and I can relate in a sense. Just like him, I would get frustrated with some concepts until they were shown to me so that I could fully understand. I think that if Albert could have seen a wasp and a bee under a microscope, it would have helped him to see the similarities between the two and the frustration would have been lifted.
My ideal learning environment is the same as in the movie. I have always believed that trying to force a concept or solution onto a student has negative outcomes. It's happened to me before and it only made the situation worse. I think that every teacher should learn to have the patience and the skill to be able to jump back a few steps and make sure that every student understands. That is what I hope to be able to do for my students when I start teaching. I did it while interning in a 3rd grade class and it seemed to have a great positive outcome.
When it comes to the role of my students, I hope that they will be similar to the students in the video. I hope that I can develop the skills to have my students sit down for a few minutes and think for themselves to come up with a solution to a problem instead of forcing one on them. If my students can do that, then I will have accomplished my goal and they will be better at solving problems and coming up with solutions.

The learning environment in the video was much like the environment I had as a K-12 student. Instead of just telling me that I messed up because i didn't catch a wasp; my teachers, like the one in the video, would suggest an alternative and wait for me to make a decision.
I don't believe the student, whose name I think was Albert, really understood the concept that a bee and a wasp have very similar characteristics. I think if he understood that under a microscope a bee and a wasp would look very similar he wouldn't have had a problem with the substitute. I think that is one difference between this environment and mine. Most of the teachers that I had made sure that I completely understood something if I got frustrated about finding a solution to a problem.
An ideal learning environment for me is the same as I grew up with and what was presented on the video. I feel that this is a very productive environment, especially the fact that the teacher didn't force the solution on the student. He simply stated that the student should sit down and think about it for a moment.
When i become a teacher I will try to do the same. That is, I will try to make a solution clear to the student without forcing him/her to do it that way. I think it's good to let them decide for themselves.
As for my student's roles... they'll be the same students that I saw on the video. Hopefully I can help them to step back at a problem and look past it instead of focusing on the immediate problem. (the immediate problem being: not finding a wasp...or leaving it in the garage I should say)

Changing Role of the Teacher
In several paragraphs, compare the learning environment presented in the video to the environment(s) you were exposed to as a K-12 student.
Describe your ideal learning environment. What will your role as a teacher be? What will your students' roles be?