Ah, the joys of teaching history to our students.
After three weeks studying highlights of America's early days as a young country, I felt they were ready for a unit test. We've made flap books for key words. We watched videos about the discovery of North America by Columbus, the struggles of the early settlers, and the fight for American independence. We role played King George III, his soldiers and the colonies being unjustly imposed taxes for all sorts of items. We taste-tested a variety of tea and discussed the importance of the 1773 Boston Tea Party. We discussed and daily reviewed the comprehension questions from the textbook. We read supplementary books, Paul Revere's historic midnight ride, in particular, and organised information about Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.
Of course they dreaded the test even though I reassured them that assessments were not instruments of torture. The task was to describe ten items out of the key people, places and events listed in the contents of the unit.
Here are some of the good and the ugly responses they wrote:
- Christopher Columbus - He went to find a new road faster to go to Asia. He went on a ship and he found out a new land. He didn't know about that land, He thought he was in Asia.
- The Britain went to war with with France because they said this is my area.
- The Boston Tea Party is closed for Christopher Columbus for he no come back more.
- Paul Rivera (a Hispanic student's take on the famous hero of the Midnight Ride)
- Philadelphia - h[a]ve write the p[a]per for [Indepndepedence] the write the p[a]per is Thomas Jefferson in July 4, 1776
I was shaking my head as I was marking their papers, and the pity party got rolling. How did this test go so horribly wrong? Have I been unrealistic in my expectations? What else could I have done to ensure their success?
After thinking long and hard about their dismal scores, I brought their papers to them the next day. Putting on my meanest face, if ever I could muster one, I gave them a lecture on taking a better attitude and approach to study. I told them that excuses and the words "I don't know" were not acceptable!
So we got out the index cards and wrote dot points for key people and places. We made accordion books that showed the year and an illustration on one side and then the corresponding event on the other side. The emphasis was not on making beautiful notes. We discussed how useless the notes were if not read, or committed to memory. They had to try and write the notes in their own words too because copying does not equate to learning. And lastly, I banned the words "I don't know" in my classroom! We discussed how this statement can reflect indifference to learning, and so instead, they must come with the premise of an open mind - How can I know? How can I understand?
It is an uphill climb to lead students on the road to intrinsic motivation for learning, but I don't want them going to their new school thinking they can't pass tests because they have a lower language level. I don't want them to discount and doubt themselves. I want to see them rising up to the challenge and be responsible for their own learning. I wanted to see them commit themselves to the rigours of education. To display a more positive attitude to learning. To expect more of themselves. To chase their dreams but not demand it to be served on a silver platter for them.
They sighed and groaned as I gave them the test every day till they passed it. By the second or third day, they knew I meant business and made the effort to know their key people, places and events. They might not remember every single detail in the lesson ten years from now, but I smiled as they researched on the key items on the history unit on their own. It was satisfying to see the students make a diligent effort to achieve success. They cheered when did they make the passing standard and excitedly rang a (single stroke) bell on my desk. Hopefully, a small battle won to remind them to:
Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities.
Happy Final Exams Week everyone!
