As you are aware you have been given Wednesday's off as "learning lab" time as part of being in Social Studies 11 honours. This is not time off but time for you to work independently on course material that does not require me, as the teacher, standing over you. It is also a day that allows you to access me individually for help or clarification, complete any outstanding work and/or make up time due to absences. As you know, Wednesday's are not a day off as you are responsible to complete a lesson, however, it is work that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule between Tuesday and Thursday.
Please comment on how you have liked or disliked this model. Be constructive and honest.
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20 comments:
I personally LOVE having Wednesday off. Not 'cause it's a day off, but because I can use it as a catch up day. If I finish the assigments that Mr. Lewis gives us, then I can always go work on work in my other classes. I've noticed that I've been missing less and less work in my other classes 'cause I can use the Wednesday Block A to catch up. It also helps because then I need to motivate myself to finish my work. I like doing things by myself without having a teach standing over me. I think we're independent enough to motivate ourseves to do the work. Having the day off to finish work also helps because I'm part of so many things after school: choir, work, the play, things like that. When I can get my work done, then I'm not as stressed out because I'm so involved in extra-curricular activities.
I think the Wednesday Block A "spare" is a great thing, and if more teachers did that, then I think it would be very beneficial.
-- Patricia Block A
In my opinion I think that it is a great idea for Mr. Lewis to give us a wednesday morning spare. This spare gives me time to do the work that I have been assigned in socials class as well as my others classes. It frees up my time after school also, so I don't have to spend it doing homework. I think that we are old enough to not have to have a teacher watching over us just to make sure we do the work assigned.
B.P
Block A
I love socials 11.
I think that the time we get "off" on Wednesday is a good thing. We don't have to come to class and struggle through the lesson, we can stay home and do it at our own pace. Not that the lessons are all that hard to go through, but it is nice to go at your own pace. And during block A, if we are done the work assigned for Mr. Lewis we can catch up on other work, which puts us under alto less stress. Wednesdays are also a good break from the monotony of the week. In the end, I think the "spare" on wednesdays are a fantastic idea.
~Devan
I personally liked not having to come to class on Wednesday's. It was a nice break from having to sit in class (but I do like to sit there anyways). That morning I could do the socials homework that was assigned or do some other homework that needed catching up on. I think that every class should have one day off a week. It's less stressful, and makes the learning environment more fun. And I think it motivates kids to do their homework at home so that they don't have to do it the next morning so that they can sleep in or whatever it is they choose to do. I would defiantely recommend teachers to try it because they get some time off, and it makes their day less stressful too. (But I wouldn't know because I'm not a teacher. Just an assumption. Haha)
Having a day off was great! I wish to have it more often!
Paulina
BLock A
"The learning lab project" for me is good as long as the students in the project are responsible. In the most part I belive that if the student would not normally do his/her homework this project would hurt them because there are in no forced to do there work the only punishment is lower marks or lack of learning in that field but some students don't care about those. On the other side for kids that normally do homework every night this project is a great idea it gives them a break from a class room that requires them to sit down and be quiet for a hour each day and with attention spans now adays it seems students are finding that exceedingly diffucult. Also working at your own pace for students allows them to spend however much time is needed on a project with out the threat of a close deadline (two days at least for every project tuesday and wednesday). I only learned today that because of this day off we dont do as many fun projects which somewhat makes me biased for the fact that I find socials to be boring. The day off does not seem to make a huge difference overall and I doubt it will every catch on for the majority of the school or district but it is a inventive project. The only huge difference I belive it makes is for the student that is behind in his/her work because it gives them a hour each week to work basically one on one with the teacher which can really help when a student is behind or needs help on a project. C.T
Personally I think it is a great idea to have one day off during the week. I have an insanely busy schedule and some time to either catch up on homework or join a gym class to have a bit of fun and relax for once is really awesome. I have time to ask my other classes what work I'm missing and then get it done. So now I have higher marks in the rest of my classes because I can get homework done that I usually have to prioritize to be able to get some of it done. It is good to know that Mr. Lewis actually trusts us to have this one day off because some teachers will like breathe down your neck about work without taking into consideration that we my have no time. But this allows us to take control over our work and get it done without someone nagging us constantly. If only some of my other classes would do this.
MB
Block A
I think that having a day where I don't have to go to class in SOCIAL STUDIES is good because the work that we get for that day is stuff that we don't really need help from the teacher on. I don't think that having a day where you don't have to go to class in a subject like physics or math is a good idea because the books don't really teach you how to do all the questions they ask and I almost always need help in thos subjects. Although if you can go to the class and get help if you need it but it isn't mandatory then i guess it would be pretty sweet to not have to go to class one day a week in those subjects either. the class off also gives me time to do other homework when i get the stuff assigned in socials for that day done
overall i think it is a good idea.
BH
This experiment, for me, has been one of the best parts of the semester. Having a day off every Wednesday really helped to reduce the stress of school.
Instead of sitting in class bored after finshing my work, I can be in the library on the computers, or catch up on other things. Mr. Lewis gets time to catch on things he needs to do as well. It's a win-win situation for everyone.
We are all young adults; we don't need to be watched constantly. That's an insult to us and an un-needed burden on the teacher.
Some people think this is a day off for us and our teacher, but we get work to do over Wednesday.
I don't know about everyone else, but my work habits and grades haven't slipped because I get a period free once a week. If anything, they're better.
If everyone had a period off once a week, they'd enjoy school more. Why? Because you have more time to get things done, or be able to do something fun once in a while.
If I had the choice to have another free period next semester, I'd choose to.
Jillian G, Block A
Mr. Lewis,
This "Learning Lab" project is a wonderful idea. I believe it is one large, practical step towards a more optimal allocation of school time. If students were to spend more time learning and doing creative work, and less time being bored or re-learning knowledge, the school system would undoubtedly be a much better environment for true learning.
If you have some extra time, please read my essay on this topic:
http://convextech.ca/MarcBurns-The_Best_School_is_Life.pdf
although everyone looks at this day off on wednesday thing as a weird thing, i think it is a great idea. Miss a test, do it on wednesday. It is also something we can look forward to on the week. As grade 11's i think we deserve a little freedom like this. If there are no problems with this so far and people dont abuse the true purpose then leave it. If, on the other hand people get carried away and abuse it and just use this time as fun time and never get there work done then take it away.
RM
Having a spare on wednesday is probably the best idea Mr. Lewis has had, maybe will ever have haha jk. But it is an excellent idea because then we have time to do our homework during school instead of after school. Which is so great because almost everyone at our age has a job which leaves little time for homework. And then there are always those who have sports after school some days. Whatever Ali is ranting about just agree, she's rattled. And it's not like we just goto the library or where ever on our 'spare' Mr. Lewis gives us work to do and if we get that done, we can work on things from our other classes.
-LS
I enjoyed having Wednesdays off. It provided me with extra time to finish work for all of my classes, and study for tests if necessary. I hope more teachers try out this idea.
Mr. Lewis is cool
I love having the spare every Wednesday. It shows that the teacher has trust in the students to do their work. Not only do you get to work on your socials assignment, you can choose to work on other class work, or anything else you have to get done. As a student who is involved in a lot of other activities and work, it just relieves that little bit of stress. And for all the teachers who disagree, you have to have some faith in your students. The ones who want to succeed will, as always in life. For that one student who needs some extra time, it could mean the difference between an A or a B. They always say to focus on the diverse learning needs, and some kids work better on their own in their own environments. WAY TO GO MR. LEWIS!!!!!!!!!!!
ps. i also agree with anything lainy says.. including that i LOVE socials 11!
There is some debate on whether grade elevens should get wednesday off. I think it is a very good idea because it gives us time to get all of our work done that we have to do. It also gives us time to do extra well on our projects. It also shows that the teacher has respect for his students, he understands that it giving a day off helps us get caught up. so i think its a very good idea!
C.R.
block A
i like the wednesday off cause i used to take a lot of sick days cause i would get stressed out and have to homework. now with the thing where u get detention after u miss 6 days of school i cant do that and i get stressed out and have to relaxed after school and have no time to do my homework. the problem with the program is that only one class did this so i could not stay home and do my work i would have to go to the library and i cant do it there its to distracting, with all the people talking and whatever. so this would b a good program if all the classes did it on one day.
jk
I feel that we should have a day off. It would give us more time to learn meaningful things in class and then do the work over our day. I found that I have caught up on homework as well as a few Z's and feel refreshed in the morning and ready to learn! I love this Idea.
T.M.
I <3 having wednesday off. Its great to have a day to catch up on SS and other classes as well. Since we have most tests on Thursday, it aslo allows us some time to study. I think more classes should try this.
D.D.
Personally, I think having Wednesday's off every week. I think it's a good way for me aswell as all the other students in my class to have a period of time we can use to catch up on missing work, and complete our assignments we are given the day before. I also think it's a very good idea because if we are all caught up with the work in our socials class then we have a chance to work on assignments from our other classes. I again would like to say that having Wednesday's off is an excellent idea and I support Mr. Lewis and his decision to make it possible. I think it's definitely for the best and I am in favour of it.
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