Reflection

Over the past week I have found myself in an interesting position. My mentor teacher was out for two days and the substitute assigned for my class let me have control. I was in the drivers seat for two entire days.
It was an interesting experience, and not something I would recommend for all student teachers, but it helped me shed some light in areas that were still gray for me. Something I find unclear is differentiation. When some students are above average and some students are below average how do you keep them all working at the same time and getting similar if not the same amount of information?
I was faced with this problem head on and without any support from a professional. My class is divided down the middle with students who are either at a sixth grade level academically or a first/second grade level. I was given one set of instructions and activities. How is that going to work?!
I immediately saw a problem when the top kids sped through the math assignment and were anxious for something else to do. I still had a handful of students who needed some one on one time to get through the work. I am not an advocate for giving students “busy work” because I do not think it creates meaningful learning experiences. I had the busy work on hand and nothing else to speak of so I mournfully handed it out. Those same students returned moments later with the task completed. Of course! If they can complete the assignment with ease, then why not complete the other work just as easily.
Off the top of my head I created an assignment for them that required some thinking. There was no right or wrong answer, just an answer and their reasoning behind it. I handed this activity out and it was met with distaste on their part. They didn’t want to do it because it wouldn’t be easy for them.
When I went home later that night I was discouraged, thinking that I had done something wrong. I mulled it over all night and came to the conclusion that it wasn’t something that I had done, it was the way they were programed. When students are above average performers, teachers find it difficult to keep up with them (my personal experience). It is much easier to throw a bunch of extra worksheets at them to keep them entertained than it is to think of things to actually expand their knowledge or thinking skills. Students who are used to this “busy work” get accustomed to performing well without having to work too hard. When I gave them the assignment with no right or wrong answer they were thrown off balance. They wanted to know what to do, what I expected, and ultimately, what the right answer is. The open-ended assignment was not well received because was not what they were used to.
It is my conclusion from this experience that we are doing a disservice to our top students by asking them to do meaningless worksheets instead of thinking for themselves. I know firsthand how hard it can be to develop more challenging assignments, but in my opinion it is worth all the extra work for the benefit of the student. I feel that if we don’t challenge the above average students we are going to allow them to slip lower and lower until they fit with the average to make our instruction easier. I don’t think this is on purpose, however, I do think of it as my job to help each child grow, regardless of where he/she started.