Summary Post C4T Teacher #1

Image via WikipediaDr. Baggett posted a video on the artist Chuck Close.  It showed how he creates wonderful life like pictures using gridded art.  He divides a picture up into a grid, then paints a design in each grid that eventually comes together to create a huge life like portrait of the original picture.  I told Dr. Baggett that I have seen this type of art done with quilting.  There was a show on PBS, where a woman used material to create a quilt of a ballerina.  Each piece of the quilt had a design that eventually created the ballerina into a life like portrait on her quilt. 
    Dr. Baggett commented on a post she read, "Power to the Learner!"  The post highlighted quick-fix behaviors teachers and parents do to help speed up the learning process. She blogged about time being the motivator for her to quick-fix problems.  I agree with her. I have four children and to keep things moving, most of the time I quick-fix problems.  I can allow them a few tries but after getting something wrong 3 times in a row (maybe even 2), I will have to help them along. Not necessarily give them the answer, just guided help.  Just the other day my kindergartner was having trouble writing 8's. She wants to write them as two circles, above and below. Well, the handwriting sheet of course shows the correct way.  She traced the first 3 outlines but was getting frustrated because she could not make three on her own.  So, instead of watching her struggle and get frustrated, I made her 3 more with dotted lines so she could trace them.  Was this the wrong thing to do? I think not! I feel like she needed more practice.  Maybe 3 was not good enough to help her make 3 on her own.  Maybe she needed to trace six to give her the confidence to make one on her own. We only have so much time in a day and if we spend it erasing 8's and making new ones, we are wasting time.  As parents and educators, we need to figure out what really needs more practice and what we can give answers to and move on.  Children should be allowed to make mistakes, but not to the point of being frustrated.  The "Power to the Learner!" link if you would like to read it. http://powertothelearner.com/post/1081413662/the-cost-of-keeping-things-moving-in-the-classroom