Hello colleagues, One of my favorite blogger/podcasters is high school teacher Jennifer Gonzalez's at the site Cult of Pedagogy. Recently she discussed the pervasiveness of worksheets and how they can sometimes be what she calls "busysheets" and other times "powersheets."
Here's Gonzalez:
"Sometimes the difference between a busysheet and a quality learning tool is obvious, and other times it’s a judgment call. After talking to lots of educators about how they use worksheets in their classrooms, I think it’s most accurate to say that every worksheet falls somewhere on a continuum: Some worksheets are clearly nothing but busysheets, while others, like note-taking sheets or data collection tools, directly support student learning; I’ll call these powersheets. I think a lot of worksheets fall somewhere between the two. Because there is such a range, the only person who can really make the call is you [the teacher]."
What has your experience been with worksheets? Good? Bad? Ugly?
Those who are interested may want to check out Gonzalez's entire podcast and article on this topic.
Cheers, Susan Finn Miller
Moderator, Teaching & Learning CoP
Comments
Susan,
I wonder if the questions should begin with, "What's the learning objective, What are the instructional resources used? and finally, How are we going to assess if learning has happened? I'm not sure if a worksheet is good or bad, but rather - how does it fit with the instructional ojective and is it meaningful?
I wonder if teachers use worksheets as a way to manage the multi-level open entry / open exit model of our classroom. It can be easier to grab a worksheet while trying to accommodate so many varying needs and academic ability.
So, while we look at the difference between busy worksheets and power worksheets, let's consider why teachers use them.
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Kathy