. . . . you got it, Project Based Learning.

I can't get them to realize that just lecturing is boring. These are summer school students, a.k.a. trouble makers.

They don't want to sit in a chair for three hours listening to teachers "talk" about what they need to learn.

Put a computer in front of them and tell them to find the history of wheels, don't show a power point.

Have the students find a recipe for pancakes and grilled cheese instead of showing what they want. Give them a budget and have them decide

which recipe works best to feed the 30 students. Let them find things and discuss.

Oh, that kid is talking when you are? Well yea! If I sat in class for 9 months and got kicked out for being troublesome, would YOU want to

be sitting and be lectured at again?

Oh, you get bored in PD cause all you do is sit there and get lectured at? What are you doing to students?

At least give me a chance when I'm talking and let me explain instead of just shut me down because "I'm a young teacher" and it "sounds too

hard" to implement my ideas. Give me a chance, that's all I ask.

Sorry for the rant. Just some thoughts. Have a great day!

keep thinking, keep talking. You have some experience to back up your thoughts after all.

Too many I this district look down on the school I was at. Too many think that school was for the gifted or for the trouble makers.

too bad, but doesn't really change things. Keep pushing forward.

In other words, they don't understand the school at all. I can't even get some of them to use a computer except to "make something pretty".

I have a whole project based off of a game on an iPad, the response I get? Oh, so they'll play the game all morning?

The game is Tiny Tower. You have to use money to build a tower. You need to have residential floors (5 people) and stores (hire 3 people)

You also have to figure out what types of stores you need to employ your residents so they are happy to live there. Players can also connect

Their towers and share or sell items to each other. So they will be sharing and discussing. They won't work on this the whole time.

40 minutes of playing the game and writing why they are making the decisions they are making in the game. Why another floor of retail?

Then have time to work in groups to build a skyscraper out of popsicle sticks and glue. Who can build the tallest and strongest. 40 min/day

Then work on a real life budget of buying food, paying rent, discussing real life needs so they learn that $ doesn't always mean buying toys

Then another 40 minutes a day looking at the history of skyscrapers. Why did we have a boom of building them in 1900s?

Why are we so obsessed with having the tallest building? Have there been failures? What happened in Pisa? So much history with buildings!

Show them.

Ddaisy: It's difficult to show when we all have to work together on a "theme" for summer school. They are not comfortable, they don't want

to try. I think they are afraid and don't see how hands on and student control can work. They've never seen it done. I understand the fear

but just need a chance. It's two weeks. . . . Actually 8 days and a day of a field trip . . . If it falls apart, who cares. Right?

I feel your frustration. Been there myself.

Keep talking it out on here, it may help.

Thanks! I do appreciate those of you on here.

it is frustrating. But, keep it up and I'm sure they'll see the great progress you will make with the kids

There are those you will never convince, but don't let that stop you from doing what is right as much as you can for the kids.

I do a week-long earth science trip with my 8th grade to SD and there were a few teachers who tried to put a stop to it a few years ago...

because kids were missing a track meet and because they felt their time could be better spent "learning" in the classroom....

(And I am one of the oldest teachers...didn't matter). Fortunately, I had parents and admin to back me up. If you do what is right ...

for the kids, eventually you will prevail, but it won't happen overnight. The thing I have to remind myself sometimes is...

I don't work for them - I work for the kids. Doesn't make it any less frustrating, but you know your heart is in the right place.

Amen, amen!

tplcmisterp: games can be good - I love it when kids don't think they are learning - just having fun - it works

I think that sounds like an amazing lesson plan. Especially for 8 days. I hope you get a chance to implement it.