This week my cooperating teacher and I had a little discussion about what is good teaching in relation to this week's question about learning, entertainment, and management, and how they intertwine in schools.

One thing she observes is that some teachers tends to use a form of entertainment as a means of classroom management, and because these teachers have their classes under control, they view that as being a good teacher. This idea is clearly not an illustration of "good teaching," and quite honestly surprises me that any teacher would view that as good teaching. A class could be in absolute chaos, but making meaning of the material for themselves. That doesn't mean that the teacher is a bad teacher because the children are on their own for a bit.

My cooperating teacher's own opinion is that entertainment is really a crutch for many teachers. If its used as a hook for children in class, then no problem, but it cannot be the main focus of the lesson. To me, it seems clear that a good teacher would know how to use entertainment as a means to help along the learning process in class, and because the children are engaged in learning that is also entertaining them, the management aspect is really a moot point. For example, a teacher presenting last Monday at our staff meeting about teaching children how to have meaningful conversations about the books they are reading said she might show a video clip from a movie, just a couple minutes that show a family sitting around the dinner table talking. This is enough so the children have the thrill of watching a movie in school, but are then able to make observations on the conversations being had and employ some of that into their own conversations.