When I first started flipping my math classes, I knew that it could work. But, to be honest, I didn't know if it would be a teaching method that would work for me. After teaching using the "flipped classroom" method for four months now, I LOVED IT!!! I couldn't ever see me going back to the traditional teaching method. Well, as I stated here, we have split our classes and in four of my classes, I have the 11th grade TAKS students. For those classes, I am still flipped. I have been making videos going over each TAKS objective and key things for them to remember as they work on the word problems. However, in my other class, I have the 9th, 10th and 12th graders that are studying for the EOC. For various reasons, we have gone back to the traditional teaching method...notes in class, independent practice to be done for homework.
So now that I am doing both methods...flipped and traditional, I thought it would be interesting to see if I miss the traditional method. Verdict is in...NO!!!! I DO NOT MISS THE TRADITIONAL TEACHING METHOD!!!! I don't like being the "Sage on the Stage". I am not able to get a good feel of whether or not the students are learning during my notes. I see the students eyes glaze over after 5 minutes of instruction. They might be copying down the notes but they are not completely engaged in the learning process. The common complaint from students is back..."I thought I understood how to do the problems just fine when you were teaching it, but then when I got home, I couldn't remember how to do the problems." I asked this one class today which method they liked better. The responses were about half and half. But, I heard comments that they thought traditional was easier. (yeah, it is teacher centered and not student centered!) And then one girl said, "I like the flipped better! When you give notes in class, you talk too much!!" LOL She clarified it by saying that she likes moving at her own pace and not having to wait for slower learners to "get it". Interesting...one of my main reasons for starting the flip...differentiated instruction. Students can move at their own pace!!
So there you have it, I will not go back!!!
