@robinrowe : Well, Robin. Your students will certainly be deemed "combat ready"!!
I remember when I first started teaching in a public school in NYC. I was so nervous and had such a hard time controlling the students in a middle school. It took me years to figure it out. My solution was to transfer a lot of the ownership to the students. I designed engaging activities that were in their interest zone or focused on content they needed to know in a design that engaged them with the activity. I used PBL. I designed group activities. I developed materials myself that were interactive. I integrated technology! What a difference all of that made! Students loved coming to my classes. I ended up doing PD work in schools throughout the U.S. I developed courses and programs for publishers. My transformation made teaching so much more enjoyable for me as well. What satisfaction I had when students were actively engaged in the activities!
Just wanted to give you a perspective that might be of interest to you.
