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.

      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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Joe Blow mailto:jblow@attbi.com