For the last two days, I have stressed about today’s activity. We were putting a character on trial, and the students had to prepare over the course of several days for the trial. Each one had a role they were to play with strict instructions to stick to the text. I stressed so much because during the time that the students were to be preparing, they were disengaged or off task. It didn’t seem like learning was taking place.

The engagement results of that seemingly lack of preparation?

My first period class. My strugglers. I worried most about them and the ensuing chaos that might take place if they couldn’t handle the task. Somehow, in that messy-looking preparation, those students had prepared. In the middle of our court session, I looked around the room while one of my defense lawyers was questioning a student on the stand, and my eyes filled with tears. Every single student was quiet and attentive. They were hanging on every word spoken. Engagement in the activity was taking place. It was beautiful! These students were usually loud and talkative when they didn’t understand. Now, they were paying attention and receiving a different view of the story we had read. We had simplified Edgar Allan Poe and made him accessible.

My other class?

Well, I received that chaos. Students were unprepared and lacked what they needed to play their role. Unfortunately, it was my largest class with 26 students in it, and with only 12 spots for active participation in our trial, I had 14 jury members who were bored, and they were not afraid to vocalize that boredom.

C’est la vie!

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