I think the statement that "teachers need to SLOW DOWN" is really important to reflect upon these days. We have so many standards to cover, and so many assignments to grade, and so many meetings to attend....the list goes on and on. However, it is important to remember that the Common Core Standards are all about getting DEEP in learning. The shift is no longer about surfacing through content as quickly as possible. Engaging students in critical thinking is getting deep. Using instructional methods such as Paideia may help us to plan for deep instruction. Paideia methods may also help to build relationships with students, which in turn help to build a classroom community. Paideia constitutes that all student opinions matter. When students feel that they are accepted through use of an instructional strategy may even cut down on discipline issues.
I felt an urge to reflect on this today as I read a teacher reflection that roughly stated that teaching is no longer fun, because there are so many discipline issues to deal with everyday. That statement made me really sad for the teacher and the students. Teaching should be fun! Learning should be fun! Education should be fun! Maybe as teachers we need to mix things up a bit and use instructional methods that help to create class communities? Would using Paideia or Socratic methods to discuss discipline within the class help make teaching and learning more fun? Would taking time out to build relationships within the class through instructional methods help make teaching/learning fun? If teachers aren't having fun teaching, then students are not having fun learning. The dynamic is unproductive for all involved. I think my questions are worth reflecting upon. I hope to plant some seeds about my thoughts as well.