A few months ago, I saw a Facebook post someone shared about schools removing analog clocks because students didn't know how to tell time. Some people that commented were outraged! Some people commented that we don't need to use analog clocks anymore because we live in a digital era.
To be quite honest, I was outraged! But for another reason.😞
Teachers don't have enough time to do everything they need to do!😵😵😵😵😵
There is just NOT enough time! #TRUTH
If that's the case, should we remove ALL types of clocks?
Because there is just not enough time!
Wait a minute! (Yes. That was a pun.)
If there isn't enough time, should we actually put up more clocks?
All types of clocks!
An entire wall of clocks!🤔
🕐🕑🕒🕓🕔🕟🕠🕡🕢🕣
🕕🕖🕗🕘🕙🕚🕛🕜🕝🕞
🕚🕛🕜🕝🕞🕐🕑🕒🕓🕔
🕟🕠🕡🕢🕣🕕🕖🕗🕘🕙
Just a thought.
Back to the original reason I'm posting.
About that post I mentioned earlier, the original one was from schools in the UK. Then, all of a sudden, I started seeing posts about schools doing this in the US!
Now, I never would even think of just getting rid of something that students don't use or don't know how to do. If that were the case, I'm pretty sure those state tests would be a whole lot shorter and so would our curriculum!!! (Yes, that was sarcasm.)
However, our job is not to get rid of, but to educate. As a teacher, I know we cannot teach our students EVERYTHING. I also know that students need to be willing to learn. So, just in case you came across one of those posts about schools getting rid of analog clocks, I wanted to share this with you.
Before any of those posts came about, I've had two clocks hanging on the wall in my class room, one analog and one digital. At the beginning of every year I explained why there are two different types of clocks. Some students know how to read both and some don't. I also take the time to demonstrate how to read an analog clock. I challenged students that didn't know how to read an analog clock to learn. If they needed help, I would help them or they could ask someone else to help them.
Guess what? I didn't get to teach ALL of my students how to read an analog clock, but I did teach MANY of my students how to read an analog clock. (Remember ⭐The Starfish Story?⭐)
Having the two types of clocks right next to each other helped.
You see, our students had to sign out and sign back in every time they left the classroom. That meant that they had to write their name, where they were going and the time they left and then the time they returned. So they had to look at those clocks quite a bit throughout the school year. I could tell which students accepted my challenge, because they would make comments or ask questions. (Please take note that many asked privately, not out loud in front of the whole class.) This told me that they accepted my challenge for themselves, not anyone else. That means a lot to me because that meant that they wanted to learn. Crazy, right?
Then there were those moments where we were in the middle of a lesson and I would notice some students' eyes would wander over to the clocks to see how much longer they had to be in math class. Tick tock, tick tock. You know those students. Everyone has them.😉
Heck! Some of those students might not have been listening, but they were comparing those two clocks! Guess what was happening? Yup! Learning! I'm so glad they took the time to do that.
I know which students were successful because of comments and conversations that occurred. Some mentioned that it was easier than they thought! Imagine that!
I don't really know if that post about schools removing analog clocks was true. You know how it is, you can't believe EVERYTHING on the internet. However, you can believe me!😉
I just wanted to share my experience with this situation in my classroom.
If given the opportunity, they will learn. Some at their own pace. Some at their own will. But they will learn.
I know, clocks are expensive especially when you are living on a teacher budget. But the analog clock was purchased by my school, so that one was already in the classroom. A few years ago, as I was perusing the clearance aisle at Wally World, I happened upon the digital clock and only paid about $4. If you're not that lucky, how about requesting one from a parent that offers their help? At the beginning of every year, I have many parents that will tell me to contact them if there is anything I need for the classroom or for my students. If that happens to you, definitely take advantage and request a digital wall clock, amongst other things.😄
Here is one of the tips I gave students that were struggling with the hands on the analog clock.
I then made a quick sketch on the whiteboard to show them what I meant. It may seem silly, but it truly did help many of them out.
As in life, not everything works the same for everyone. I'm just sharing what worked (with most students) in my classroom in the hopes that it will help someone else.
Well, that's it! I think I've run out of time.
Okay, that was the last pun. I promise.😊
Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and read my post.
Oops! That one just slipped in.
❤❤❤I really appreciate it!!!❤❤❤
Have a wonderful day and thanks so much for choosing a noble yet challenging profession that allows you to make a difference in the life of a child!
Hours, uh, I mean ours is not a profession that can be taken on by just anyone. It takes a very special, brave and creative someone that has an abundance of patience and love for education.😉
