[etni] why do the HOTS course
- From: "aviva shapiro" <shapiroaviva@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: ETNI <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:49:13 +0200
Dear Etniers,
I have been following the thread about the Literature course carefully . I
understand what is being said and I agree with some of it. However, since I
am one of the teachers who is taking part in the Pilot program , I thought I
might express a few of my thoughts after having actually tried out some of
the HOTS in my classroom.. It has not been easy taking part in the pilot for
many reasons.(mostly lack of time ) But I have learned quite a lot and so
have my students. I am sure that all of us as teachers expect (or at least
want ) our students to be active, thinking participants in our classes.
Yet, we don't always know how to go about and make this happen. Well I have
found that by introducing the HOTS in different ways and through different
activities, I have managed to awaken many more of my pupils and have
"forced"( encouraged ) them to be more active learners.. AND I believe that
by being ACTIVE , they learn
I will not try to convince anyone that it has all been a bed of roses or
that it's not a bit more work for the teacher (at least in the beginning) .
It is a process and it takes time. It takes time for the teachers (me in
this case) to understand how to infuse these HOTS and how to train my
students to cope with thinking. I have had both positive and negative
feedback from my pupils. . The kids feel very wary (will they do better or
worse than their peers on Bagrut ) and at times confused. I have had to
bite my tongue and not be angry at them at times when they get angry at me
for spending so much time on literature and often it seems to them that we
are not learning English. Some of them (many) would prefer more grammar
pages, more unseens, and more structured tasks. I have had to be both
creative and cajoling at times. I have had to explain to them that they
are improving their writing as they write reflection pages, or compositions
about a choice they made in life ( for The Road Not Taken). (and I believe
they have improved)
But I feel that in the long run in spite of the many difficulties we have
faced, like lack of time,(our biggest enemy) and from some of the students
a lack of understanding of why we are doing this,(second biggest enemy) I
have taken my pupils one step forward into adulthood. I have at least made
them stop and "think" about why they were involved in this . And whether
they know it or not they have learned. YES, it was a lot of work for me, in
the beginning as I was trying to work out what was expected of me. AND both
myself and my colleague over -taught and over-planned. but we have worked
this out and really enjoyed some of our HOTS lessons (as did our pupils) .
I know that once this is a mandatory exam for all students (4 and 5 points)
and time is not against us ( teaching over 2 to 3 years) I will enjoy it
more. AND in the long run if you've been teaching literature anyways. it's
just a matter of changing your perspective a bit.. Also, since I believe in
alternative assessment , having the chance to do the LOG with the pupils was
a wonderful way to reach the non-test oriented students and give them a
chance to shine !!.
I have been informed that a booklet will come out to explain the whole
program but I strongly recommend doing the in-service as not only will it
give you a better idea as to how to work in the classroom , it will allow
you to share ideas with your colleagues which is a worthwhile experience and
may contribute to your professional development even more than the course
itself. I am pretty sure that the Ministry can't fire teachers who haven't
done the course but they will expect them to properly prepare them for these
Literature modules , be it a LOG or exam. I feel that by not doing doing
the course at some time many teachers will lose out and be short- changing
their students. .
AND last I know how hard English teachers work and how much more we do than
other subject teachers . I understand the frustration of having more work
heaped on our already full plates. However I see this as an opportunity to
make English Language Learning a more valued subject and a way to open the
eyes of our students. Moreover, I know that the teachers on ETNI voicing
their opinions are the ones who already do all the courses, and work
extremely hard. In that I am a coordinator and counselor I am aware of the
frustration felt by many teachers with this new program being foisted on
us. Yet I still say, we must embrace this new idea and see it as a way to
enhance our teaching and our profession. AND last.. if along the way , we
are not happy with certain aspects of what is going on , we must let our
voices be heard . I know we have a chief inspector who listens to us and if
we stand together we will be heard.
Shana tova,
Aviva
Try and Fail BUT Never Fail to try !!!
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