Out at my Book Group tonight and remembered what is was like when you haven’t done your homework properly.
I’d put off reading the book; “The Case of the General’s Thumb” by Andrey Kurkov, right up until the last minute. However being on Maternity Leave meant that I could devote my whole day today to getting it read. I finished it 40 minutes before the Group began.
Feeling proud (and relieved) I headed off ready to expound on its failings and virtues only to discover that over half of the members hadn’t got around to finishing it either! (Yes, most work in Education!)
Despite this we all managed a pretty full discussion around it.
Got me thinking:
- How many of our pupils and teachers only come ‘half-prepared’ – but still manage to “wing it”?
- How many like me, go to great lengths to do a job properly?
Guess the answer sadly too often must be:
- ‘Lots’ to the first point – and
- ‘Very few’ to the second!
Pity really…
4 responses so far ↓
1
Graham
// Jun 1, 2006 at 3:53 pm
Hi Elspeth
Nice blog- and love the dog!- a Peek perhaps?
There’s another question there that gets me sometimes- how much prep do we actually need to do as teachers? I came later to teaching- but still its taken me a few years to tackle the guilt that Jordanhill instils over not having created that fabulous concept board for maths!
Mind you- I needed therapy before Jordahill anyway!
Graham (ABs 118 #7 !)
2
Nicola
// Jun 4, 2006 at 11:04 am
Hi Elspeth,
“How many of our pupils and teachers only come ‘half-prepared’ – but still manage to “wing it”?”
Given the nature of my subject (secondary RE) I am not ashamed to admit that many of my best and most inspiring lessons (this is not just my opinion – speaking of behalf of pupils too) have been when I’ve ‘winged – it’. My subject lends itself very well to going off at tangents and giving kids more of a voice than they may get in other subjects. Often this means that, at times during a lesson, we do ‘wing it’ – and very successfully too. So speaking personally, I am more than happy to ‘wing it’ if that means having a great lesson!
Hmmm, new timetable begins tomorrow. Perhaps I should look at what classes will be turning up at my door! Can’t wing it first time I see them…or can I???
Nicola
3
myplace
// Jun 4, 2006 at 4:17 pm
You know, you’re both absolutely right. Many of the best lessons result from little preparation and being perceptive enough to take the lead from the children. Indeed I count myself in these categories.
There’s def a place for both – I suspect our Inspection system, however, would prefer to see thorough preparation beforehand and flexibility in delivery!
Thanks for your comments!
4
watches
// Jul 26, 2009 at 2:03 am
Piguet Watches
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