Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Balance extra-curricular with expectations in the classroom
I don't think that in the classroom the teacher should find a balance. I think that in the classroom it should be the teacher's duty to keep the room on task. Even though it may be hard, the kids deserve the time spent in the classroom to be devoted to their education, not to you discussing sports with them. If the students were in a sport or extra-curricular activity, they would find that the time spent there is devoted to that activity only. Players do not discuss algebra at a baseball game and therefore baseball and other sports do not need to be discussed in great detail in the classroom. There are things that are necessary and unnecessary in the classroom. If sports are brought up in a lesson or a student asks a specific question then answer it and move on. If you dwell on it then it is opening the door for them to continue talking about it. As a teacher, it is your responsibility to give the kids what they came to school for and leave the sports to the coaches.
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Classroom time is devoted to education. I agree they should be separate. As teachers it is our job to give kids what they need and that's the best education possible.
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about the time spent in the classroom being used for teaching the lessons and extra curricular activities have its own time for introduction and use. I also have to wonder if it would help in teaching new subjects to students to use some the information or examples from extra curricular activities that the students are involved in? I think it would help the learning process. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteI agree I think maybe sometimes you can use sports or activities to teach concepts like having games or something but also extra-curricular activities need to stay separate when teaching certain concepts.
ReplyDeleteGreat posts and comments, everyone! I do want to bring it to your attention that teachers often serve as coaches, perhaps not so much at the elementary level, but it does happen. Despite everyone's best effort, sometimes the after-school activities overshadows what happens in the classroom. We are the only country in the WORLD that overextends our students in extra-curricular activities. Other countries, such as China and African countries push their children to the brink with academics. Neither is good for the development of our children. So, what are we to do? Do we just sit back and watch? It isn't our problem? Who speaks on behalf of our children?
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