Tonight's #flipclass #flashblog is something that has been in conversations in my circles for several months now. How do I manage to cover content while balancing student stress levels?
My students know that they can "tap out" if things get way to stressful. If a student has a major exam, lab, project, etc on the same day as a summative assessment for me, my students are permitted to take my assessment on another day. I have had teachers tell me that students will do that just so that they can talk to other students to find out what is on the exam and have an unfair advantage. My responses to that include:
I tell my students what is going to be on my exam. Why the surprise? I give my students a "focus list" with how many questions, how many points, and the type of questions. It really should be a guessing game!
I also would rather my students show me "what they know", and not "what they could remember under the load of stress." I would rather my students be fresh and unstressed. I believe I can get so much more from them when that happens.
I trust my students. Until, I get something that makes me question their integrity, they have my trust. It all comes out in the wash, right? If a student is going to cheat, he/she WILL get caught. I absolutely feel that way.
I rarely have a student "tap out" more than once a year. I keep track of the tap outs. My students don't abuse it! But, it's there for them if they need to.
How does this affect my curriculum? It simply doesn't. That's the beauty of flipping. I do so much more than my curriculum calls for, AND I am finished for the year with a little less than a month to spare. I have the room to adjust my schedule so that my students are overwhelmed, aren't stressed, aren't suicidal, enjoy math, and actually show me their knowledge. I know that this is rare. I don't teach an AP class, but is curriculum more important than health. The kids are kids!
Why has this been in my circle lately? I have a student that I share with other teachers (obviously) and it was brought to our attention that this young lady was sad. So sad that she was vomitting, missing school, wishing for death. This is a student that wouldn't speak up and make teachers knowledgable about this. A student that appeared to be fine when in school. Just a bit shy! We got an email from mom making us aware. I got a private email from the mother, saying that my class was the only one the her daughter was stressed over, since she knows she can tap out if needed. So, my students will always be able to tap out. Math can be second!
Also, our high school is moving to a block A/B schedule next year. Part of the reason for this is because of our building project (new school being built while we go to school in it!) and because a survey by parents and students revealed that the level of homework and stress on our HS students is very high. Have 4 90 minute periods a day for 2 day cycle will hopefully lessen that stress and amount of homework.
I believe in teacher the whole child. The whole child is far more important that math, I truly believe that.
That is a really interesting idea that students can "tap out". I like it. Kids are kids, and they are individuals who deserve to be treated as such. Sometimes I think teachers can be too tough on students when they fail to recognize that students often have many stress factors outside of school that affect them in school.
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