Finding the Balance - Homeostasis in the Classroom

Mr. Miyagi was on to something when teaching Daniel(son) about finding the balance. Balance, so to speak, is maintained by a process known as homeostasis in living systems. In "simple" terms, remember this is a series, humans have hormones and nerve cells to regulate bodily functions, such as blood sugar concentration and heart rate. If the classroom is the functional subunit of the school, then the classroom teacher is the primary regulator of that subunit. The classroom teacher is searching for the balance and the one maintaining order. Further, the one working to maintain the steady state for optimum learning, engagement, fun, rigor, relevance, and, perhaps, a multitude of other variables. Not simple.

Building upon the above and the previous post, this can be viewed in the hypothetical classroom with the teacher as artist, diagnostician, and now regulator. From the human digestion unit, the artist teacher has planned, designed, and implemented lessons and activities from the unit. The artist teacher is also regulating student engagement, behavior, environment, etc. Always looking for the steady state for optimum learning...minor adjustments here and there. The diagnostician teacher may now use formative assessment, during the human digestive system application activity, to address errors in process, facts, concepts, skills, etc. Always looking for the steady state for optimum learning...minor adjustments here and there. The positive impact of assessing during learning allows the classroom teacher to make minor adjustments, such as the AID note, thereby maintaining the steady state of student learning and engagement. Simple and minor are synonyms (in my book). Minor adjustments during learning (formative assessment) combined with ongoing major engagement with content and skills can lead to positive impacts in student learning in the classroom. Speaking of engagement...that will be the topic of the next post in the Simplification Series.