Challenging experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Challenging experience - Essay Example The first problem was how the curriculum was presented to the students. These students came to camp expecting to have exciting experiences in the outdoors. The curriculum I was instructed to present was nearly all classroom activities. It had been borrowed from a local school district. The students grew bored quickly with the outlined activities. They said that it felt just like school. They grew restless, talkative and defiant at times as a result of their boredom and disappointment. The second problem centered on the different ability levels of my group of ten students. Some were obviously very academically inclined while others were more interested in just being in the outdoors. There wass also a wide range of cognitive abilities from 5th to 8th grade, so after only one day I could see that spanning this difference was going to be a challenge. The evening of my first day at camp, I met with the director to discuss some changes in approach to teaching the curriculum. I suggested th at much of the classroom instruction could be delivered in a more meaningful way through activities outdoors. I knew this would allow my energetic students more time and freedom to engage in active learning. I also received permission to differentiate the activities based on student ability and maturity. I did this so everyone would be able to participate in ability appropriate activities.