Planning for Next Semester

Yesterday I sat down with each of the kids and walked through their ILP's line by line, figuring out what we need to study for the coming semester.  Their Individual Learning Plan (ILP) was put together jointly last spring by myself and the kids' supervising teacher with Connections, Patricia Kane.  We considered their passions, interests, learning styles and grade level as well as state standards and my desires as we decided what subjects to have the kids work on. 

I had to quiz the kids a little bit to see if they had learned certain items on their ILP's.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that they are right on track for being halfway through the semester.  Aurora has nearly completed her entire Course 1 McDougal Littell math book, and when checking the ILP the items that she didn't know were the ones contained in the final chapters of that book.  The Jamestown series for reading and some writing dovetails very nicely with the basics skill development in reading:  analyze literary devices, differentiate between fact and opinion, understand concept of theme, accurately restates and summarizes text, etc.

Part of the challenge of teaching is trying to break things up so that it doesn't become monotonous and boring, trying to keep it challenging enough without being overwhelming, and teaching things that are not as intrinsically interesting and satisfying.  Each person has things that they love, but if it is presented in a certain way the joy goes right out the door.  Denver can spend hours working with his simple machines lego kit, building and refining designs but has resisted any related bookwork.  Does that mean learning isn't happening?  Not at all; learning can happen in the absence of books, but we've become conditioned to think that if students are not using textbooks they are not learning.  How many workplaces have textbooks to teach?  Most jobs offer on-the-job training and observation followed by practice.  While that can be a difficult ideal for teaching basic facts, it has some merit.

The bottom line is that in planning next semester I felt my way through it, sensing the kids' motivation levels and interests.  Tomorrow we will meet with the kids' supervising teacher to refine and ask questions.  And then for break time!