Beginning the Journey

Where are you starting the journey?  Why?

I am starting this journey in the anticipation of teaching a collaborative, project-based humanities class that combines world literature, world history, and technology.   I have some content ideas—ways to connect history and literature.  Research using primary sources and some sort of comparison between historical nonfiction documents and literature stand out to me. 

As far as pedagogy, here’s what’s floating around in my head.  I know I will need to shift from the knowledge authority in the classroom to a facilitator.  I will have to create different levels of structure for different kids.  Formative assessment will be essential and it may look different for different groups of kids.  I will have a steep learning curve with the technology part, but I don’t have to explicitly teach that part, just facilitate their discovery.   I will have to be open that the ELA part of the class will look very different from a regular language arts class and that I can’t be married to a particular piece of literature.  I will have to find ways to incorporate writing into the curriculum that is authentic.  And I will have to keep Gateway in mind as well—because we have an obligation to prepare our kids for the standardized tests that affect their future. 

I anticipate lots of planning with Roger and Amy. I would like to set norms for communication because I know this is new to all of us and I’d let to set an atmosphere of trust and honesty.  For example, I’d like us to be able to give honest feedback without hurting each others’ feelings. 

I am feeling a little overwhelmed.  I have all these idea swirling around but nothing concrete.  To be honest, I have a hard time envisioning what my day to day will look like. But I am also really excited to be part of something new and innovative, something that could really change the way our kids go to school.