Clif Mims is a Christian, husband, father, teacher, cancer warrior, and fan of the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Memphis Grizzlies.
View all posts by Clif
7 thoughts on “One of My Professional Pet Peeves”
FYI: I spoke with a science educator who prefers the term, “We uncovered that in class.”
I enjoyed the audioboo. I remember several times in high school teachers asking well what happened we just covered the material. However they would not ask if we understood, or if we had questions. I feel it comes from the teacher being put under pressure of having to cover an x amount of material in a x amount of time given and it is difficult.
I so agree with you about that statement!!! I feel that we all learn on different levels and different ways. What’s so important to me is that when I get my own students I will be able to disect every part of the lesson to make sure I’m not just covering it. I want them to understand it, breathe it, think it and know it.
Meh, a colleague got upset at me for saying “teacher training.” He chided, “we train animals, not people.”
OK, so when I’m “training” for a bike race, I’m an animal?
“Cover” is just a verb and unless the discussion is philosophical (where semantics are important), I don’t have *that* problem with using it in this sense.
I fully agree with your discomfort with this kind of statement.
“Covering” is defined as the act of concealing the existence of something by obstructing the view of it”.
“Discover” is to see for the first time, make a new finding.
Educators need to pave the road to discovery, rather than ‘cover’ that road with the speed bumps of one-mode presentations.
Dawne,
Thanks for sharing the definitions. They certainly shed light on the issue.
I really enjoyed this podcast. It’s a battle I have with people constantly – simply covering material doesn’t ensure student learning.
.-= John SpencerĀ“s last blog ..a make-believe conversation about parenting =-.
FYI: I spoke with a science educator who prefers the term, “We uncovered that in class.”
I enjoyed the audioboo. I remember several times in high school teachers asking well what happened we just covered the material. However they would not ask if we understood, or if we had questions. I feel it comes from the teacher being put under pressure of having to cover an x amount of material in a x amount of time given and it is difficult.
I so agree with you about that statement!!! I feel that we all learn on different levels and different ways. What’s so important to me is that when I get my own students I will be able to disect every part of the lesson to make sure I’m not just covering it. I want them to understand it, breathe it, think it and know it.
Meh, a colleague got upset at me for saying “teacher training.” He chided, “we train animals, not people.”
OK, so when I’m “training” for a bike race, I’m an animal?
“Cover” is just a verb and unless the discussion is philosophical (where semantics are important), I don’t have *that* problem with using it in this sense.
I *do* have another problem with that saying. Here’s my response: http://brownelearning.org/blog/?p=627
I fully agree with your discomfort with this kind of statement.
“Covering” is defined as the act of concealing the existence of something by obstructing the view of it”.
“Discover” is to see for the first time, make a new finding.
Educators need to pave the road to discovery, rather than ‘cover’ that road with the speed bumps of one-mode presentations.
Dawne,
Thanks for sharing the definitions. They certainly shed light on the issue.
I really enjoyed this podcast. It’s a battle I have with people constantly – simply covering material doesn’t ensure student learning.
.-= John SpencerĀ“s last blog ..a make-believe conversation about parenting =-.