Two days ago I gave a lecture on 'The Stressproof Classroom' to over 300 teachers and school leaders. Judging by the overwhelmingly positive feedback from many educators, I can see that many of us are on the same page. We've got to get ourselves and our kids and students off the 'stress freeway.' To that end, here's the beginning of the year talk I gave for several years running until I moved from secondary teaching to university. Maybe teachers out there will take this on as a challenge. Let's do away with homework, folks. It has a zero effect. It doesn't improve learning or autonomy. I trialled no homework over years and it resulted in a complete change in engagement and achievement in high school English. Suddenly everyone was working hard at school - and students were happy. And we got so much more done. And no one was stressed. So go for it. I challenge you to do something like it. This was my beginning of semester 'spiel' which evolved and changed very little over a few years. Thanks to all my students over the past decade who taught me how to be a better teacher.
Hi everyone and welcome to the Stressproof Classroom,where everyone gets to learn without stress. Before we start let’s establish our protocols or rules for an English lesson so that everyone gets to learn and I get to teach in an optimum environment...without stress. I’m going to tell you what I need, and you’re going to tell me what you need for optimum learning. Research has shown that you don’t learn when you’re stressed, so firstly, let’s make a list of what we each need for a low-stress environment and we'll write out that as an agreement between us. Now, this next proposal will also reduce stress, and allow you to learn in a much better way and be active and social when you go home. Here it is: I believe that six or seven hours a day at school should be enough time to get through everything that needs to be done. So, I’m doing away with homework. Yes. It’s true. Anything that you end up taking home is only what you don’t get finished in class. I’ll give you adequate time and guidance in class to complete the work, but if you chat or waste time you will have things left over to do. You may be required to read books or texts in your own time. My second proposal: I’m going to allow you as much choice as possible to write about and research topics that interest you. I believe if you’re interested and engaged, you’ll learn much more, and the rest of us will learn from you too! Finally, we’re going to spend this first lesson on the assessment criteria. I will show each of you where you are on your own learning continuum and you will have a clear idea of what you need to do to improve. This too, should help you see the value in what you’re learning and how you’re progressing. This hopefully gets rid of surprise or ‘unfair’ grades. In this class, your task is to develop and learn and think critically and be creative. There is no limit to your own mind and thinking – and that’s what I’ll be thinking as I work with you this semester.
Hi everyone and welcome to the Stressproof Classroom,where everyone gets to learn without stress. Before we start let’s establish our protocols or rules for an English lesson so that everyone gets to learn and I get to teach in an optimum environment...without stress. I’m going to tell you what I need, and you’re going to tell me what you need for optimum learning. Research has shown that you don’t learn when you’re stressed, so firstly, let’s make a list of what we each need for a low-stress environment and we'll write out that as an agreement between us. Now, this next proposal will also reduce stress, and allow you to learn in a much better way and be active and social when you go home. Here it is: I believe that six or seven hours a day at school should be enough time to get through everything that needs to be done. So, I’m doing away with homework. Yes. It’s true. Anything that you end up taking home is only what you don’t get finished in class. I’ll give you adequate time and guidance in class to complete the work, but if you chat or waste time you will have things left over to do. You may be required to read books or texts in your own time. My second proposal: I’m going to allow you as much choice as possible to write about and research topics that interest you. I believe if you’re interested and engaged, you’ll learn much more, and the rest of us will learn from you too! Finally, we’re going to spend this first lesson on the assessment criteria. I will show each of you where you are on your own learning continuum and you will have a clear idea of what you need to do to improve. This too, should help you see the value in what you’re learning and how you’re progressing. This hopefully gets rid of surprise or ‘unfair’ grades. In this class, your task is to develop and learn and think critically and be creative. There is no limit to your own mind and thinking – and that’s what I’ll be thinking as I work with you this semester.
'The Stressproof Classroom' University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia. February 22, 2017
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