Well, it’s a month into the school year, and I’ve just had my first failed lesson! Actually, it was a great lesson for me:)
I planned (badly) a discussion around a prayer to St Joseph that didn’t yield neither learning outcomes, nor interest on my students’ part.
Frustrated and embarrassed, I first blamed (to myself) my students – yes, I went there- for their lack of intellectual curiosity and/or ability. But after venting to colleagues and doing some reflecting, I realized I hadn’t prepared the discussion thoroughly.
Did I have an objective? What was the outcome desired? Did I put myself in my students’ shoes when scaffolding the lesson? More importantly, did I give them time to inquire, process, and share with each other before contributing to the class discussion?
The answer is a resounding NO! (Not shouting, just emphasizing:)
I just couldn’t leave it at that; so, I re-planned and prepared, and tried again with another class. And, well, what a world of difference!
Reflecting and trying is well worth the effort – a lesson for educators and their students.
Peace,
Nadine