OPINION
FACEOFF: DO RAD DAYS HAVE A PLACE IN THE CURRICULUM? Ella D’Amore
Eva Fahrenkrog
Blended learning, resource area days, RAD days. These terms are all synonymous for class periods when instruction or activities can take place outside of the classroom. Teachers assign lessons to well-performing students (who meet a certain criteria) on Google Classroom and students complete the allotted activities independently away from their teacher.
AGAINST
FOR Charles Verkoulen (Guest Writer)
Alex Clark In my years at LHS, RAD days have been an escape from my Since I’ve begun utilizing RAD days this year at LHS, I’ve monotonous routine and have allowed me greater flexibility found that I ended up having less motivation to do the with my learning. We should embrace, and even promote, RAD work assigned by my teacher. I then favor my time to bedays as they incentivize effort, provide a level of autonomy ing on my phone or doing other work from other classes. and allow teachers to work with students in need of additional Since I’ve procrastinated work, especially from other support. classes, that work now gets priority during RAD days. One of the many great characteristics of RAD days is that RAD days also are very similar to the old Wednesday they encourage and reward hard work. Oftentimes teachers schedule that was utilized in the 2020-21 school year, will give RAD days depending on a student’s level which I found was overall of understanding, and this can be determined unproductive. I had a by their completion of an exit slip or homework. tendency to push that This system not only motivates students to work further and further put in effort, but also makes sure that students behind prioritizing my taking RAD days have a solid comprehension of phone or other activthe material. ities. This tendency to RAD days also provide students with a healthy push work away and level of autonomy. Everyone learns differently, prioritizing notifications and giving students control over their and entertainment on own learning helps them understand phones, I believe, affects their limits. The lesson plans allow stueverybody, especially dents to prioritize more pressing work kids using RAD days. and doesn’t punish them for doing their But, in class I find myself being classwork later. These asynchronous much more productive with my work assignments teach students to find because I have a teacher to guide me outside resources and encourage them through the lesson. I also comprehend to be less reliant on direct instruction. the lesson much better, or at least If asynchronous just isn’t working for better than I would have on my own. In you, then just don’t use the RAD day. addition, I observed myself performing According to math teacher Mrs. Davis, better on tests especially when I went in the four years that RAD days have to in-class review days instead of been implemented at LHS, there have RAD day reviews. I respect the deciAlex Clark, sophomore, receives help from math teacher Mrs. Gooris, while Charles Verkoulen, junior, been no negative trends in grade data, sion for teachers to utilize RAD days, chooses to utilize his RAD day in the library. and surveys show that students have and I am grateful that I have options experienced reduced stress levels. for how I can learn but they aren’t the Another benefit of RAD days is best use of my time. that they permit teachers to help students who need it. With I also don’t choose to participate in RAD days because classes of up to 30 plus students, RAD days can create smaller I go to school to have in-person instruction. Why would environments that allow teachers to support students that I choose to watch an EdPuzzle (video) in the library when need extra assistance. I know that when I’m struggling with I could go into class and watch my actual teacher teach? a math concept, RAD days provide the opportunity for extra It’s just too similar to asynchronous work which was a clarification from my teacher that wouldn’t be possible during poor utilization of time. I obviously understand why we regular class. were remote then, but why would I want to continue RAD days are one of the many things that make LHS so these aspects of learning when I have the opportunity to special. Allowing students to control their own lives and be the be in-person? heroes of their own stories is something that isn’t available at RAD days are a chance for the entire class to fall behind, many other schools. The fantastic work of math teachers Mrs. especially myself. Learning in-class is substantially better Davis and Mr. Taylor, who brought RADs to LHS, has given LHS than any RAD day will ever be. Let’s prioritize the entire students the opportunity to grow themselves and develop real class when deciding to utilize RAD days. life skills with important applications. With increased autonomy, more motivation, and a specialized class makeup, what’s not rad about RAD? 20 DROPS OF INK
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3/23/2022 11:20:23 AM
