Subs are hard to find these days. I am always excited when someone is willing to take on my classes that are hormone filled and giggly beyond belief.
Today I had an emergency and ended up having to be out of my room. The students were to give their group presentations on their aquifers. Hopefully the students were as respectful as if I was there and were willing to help the sub figure out how our system works. Creating the culture.....
Part of PBL is that the students will be able to function if I am there or not. They know the system. They know what they are supposed to do as soon as they walk in the door. First, we do our bellringer. Next we do whatever the bellringer has us do. Next it is whatever project point we are on. This is the whole removing the spoon feeding process. It has been 12 weeks of school. When I student walks in and first thing says "what do we do".... that bothers me. That means that we haven't gotten the concept of independent learning no their part for that process.
We are getting better on figuring out the process. This is not an overnight process and is a definite change in the culture of education. It is something that will happen a little at a time, a day at a time.
I have seen so much growth in these students in 12 weeks. I am pumped to see how they will do by the end of the year.
Our motto in this new transition must be "don't freak out". We will learn together and grow together and we WILL do what is best for the students.