Passionate Readers by Pernille Ripp

Author:Pernille Ripp
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2017-07-17T16:00:00+00:00

Spending time reflecting on the impact of choice on student engagement is time well spent. And I have found that even within severely restricted curriculums, choices can still be offered to students. What matters is that we take the time to really dissect what we are being told to do and then find ways to regain control in the things we are not being told to do. I think we often assume that we have little control over much within our learning communities, yet there are always aspects that remain within our control; sometimes we just have to spend time uncovering them first. If the idea of handing back control to your students frightens you, start small. Perhaps you are not ready to give them full control over the product they create, but you can offer them a few choices such as which technology tool to use or who to work with. Start small and build on, with time you will often realize that your initial fears of more freedom turning into chaos were unfounded.

This being said, I also am aware of my own privilege. Many teachers are not as fortunate as I am; I do not have a purchased curriculum to follow in my English classes, but instead have been given the opportunity to create my own, as long as my colleague and I line up in which standards we explore within our quarters. We also have a common planning time when we swap ideas, decide on major units, and support each other when needed. While this format is liberating, it can also be quite intimidating at times, and yet I am grateful for the opportunity to truly create a curriculum that will serve the needs of the unique learners I have. While I re-use some explorations every year, there are always new ideas to try with the students, all based on what type of community we have established. However, if you are faced with a purchased curriculum or a created one that every teacher is expected to follow, I hope you have a chance to adapt it to fit your needs. In fact, if you are an administrator or somehow involved in curriculum purchasing decision, I hope part of your discussion centers on the point that we do not teach the same children as the program is based on. That our students may never share the same experiences as those kids who tested the curriculum and made it research-based, nor may they share the same background. This is important and should be remembered at all times because if a purchased curriculum or administrative decisions do not allow us to adapt it to our students, then it will never be as powerful as it needs to be. If we are chained to a curriculum map so we can all teach with fidelity based on other people’s students, then we are not teaching the students in front of us.

So while there are many wonderful programs and curriculums for purchase, that

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