SteaL the wheEl

Whats best for kids Isnt for every teacher to Reinvent the wheel

Outside the door I could hear Ms Beckham explaining the activity. Students were to make connections between terms they'd been learning. She explained clearly not skipping a beat as she sensed my presence and opened her door without turning her back to the class.

Students immediately got to work on their group's poster, a quiet hum of discussion as they made decisions together on which words could link and how.

It was academic conversation at its best. Students in control of their argument and reasoning and practiced in the process of respectful disagreement.

I returned at the end of class to take a photo of the choices and the first thing Ms Beckham said was "Its not mine" she may have said that out of consideration to not take credit for someone else's lesson design, but she couldn't be more wrong - it was hers, regardless of where it originated and it reminded me to write this post for others:

It isn't more nobel to wrIte the lesson - the Internet is full of great ideas It's all about the student and you - why reinvent the wheel if there's something ready-made out there that will work?

The secret is doing what Ms Beckham did: choosing carefully a high interest lesson that will work for your curriculum and students, and owning it well enough to explain to the class what you want to see at the end!

No guilt! Make it yours!
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