We have a new Learning Seminar this year at Longfellow. Due to the change, staff and students are experiencing mixed feelings. First, what’s the difference between Lancer time, SEL, and return periods.
“For SEL days you have lancer time 6th, so during your 6th period you have an SEL lesson,” explained school counselor Thaisa York.
Return periods give you more time to do work in that class, and to talk with your teacher. Depending on the day this can allow 3rd period to be a longer class.
“For the most part, it’s another opportunity to get your work done. Sometimes you will participate in school activities.” Ms. York added.
For 8th graders, this Learning Seminar is more like the Lancer time we had last year. However, some 8th grade students prefer last year’s lancer time
“I kinda liked it last year, teachers this year tell us that we can only do their work,” Juliet K. said, “We are only allowed to do math, for instance, when we might have other priorities and work to do.”
If students can’t get work done that is prioritized, then how much work are students really getting done?
“I always get a lot of work done in Lancer Time,” Sofia M. answered, using last year’s name for the period. “I think it’s pretty complicated when we have different Lancer periods. I would change it to LS4 every day.”
If LS4 was our Learning Seminar, it would be more like last year. Last year we had a designated place for Lancer Time and a lot more freedom with what students could do during that time. It’s not just students who have opinions about the Learning Seminar, even teachers do.
“I don’t really need the return,” said Ms. Duggan, who rarely gives tests and allows plenty of class time to finish work. “What I would like is clear guidance or expectations for students on what a Learning Seminar is, as I’ve heard from students that different teachers are doing wildly different things.”
Some teachers make it so that you can only do their work in a Learning Seminar. However other teachers let you work on whatever you need. Every teacher does Learning Seminar differently.
“How much freedom do teachers have? Can we please let students know that?” Ms. Duggan questioned. “It’s really difficult to do one-on-one work when you have 32 kids.”
One-on-one work is definitely a challenge, especially when you only see your students one to two extra times every two weeks. Students who need one-on-one work will have trouble finding time to do that.
“I feel like the teachers could help more,” Juliet complained.
With these opinions in mind, people have had mixed feelings about Learning Seminar. Maybe in the future Longfellow might make changes back to the original schedule. Then again, they might change it even more, so be careful what you wish for.
