"Middle level advocate Conrad Toepfer advises teachers to 'pitch it where they can hit it...' The objective is not to strike out kids but to enhance the possibility that every student will be able to get a base hit and even an occasional home run."
Okay, don't get me wrong here, I agree that every kids needs to experience regular successes in the course of their school day. And I know that as teachers we need to be orchestrating and ensuring those "singles," and "home runs." But is this really a matter of "pitch it where they can hit it?" OR should we be practicing and practicing until kids can hit anything we throw at them?
I guess my problem is that the metaphor sounds a little like lowering the bar so that all kids can have success. I have always believed in raising the bar and getting kids to work to achieve more than they thought they could. To make my own baseball metaphor, "If you build it, they will come." If you set the bar, and help kids learn the skill, they'll raise themselves up to any success you (as the teacher) could possibly want.
What do you think, am I reading too much into this?
Sam,
ReplyDeleteI was a little miffed about that statement too. I agree that we shouldn't "lower our expectations" for students. I've always believed that all students should be challenged at their own level--perhaps the baseball metaphor was trying to say that. I don't think they should be "hitting home runs" all of the time. We all learn from our mistakes, so "striking out" can sometimes be a good thing. How else will students grow, if they're not challenged?
-Melissa
I agree with practice practice practice. I actually tell my students that when they are struggling with a math concept. It helps that I coach softball too and I can relate to some of my players. You are both right though, you won't always hit a homerun the first time, but you may be a mediocre hitter and a better fielder (case in point, Veritek).
ReplyDeleteBoth your statements make me think of TWBIA when it references the Pygmalion in the Classroom study. A manager has to think all of his players are as great as Papelbon (sorry, a little bias)