Fishing

I enjoy fishing, but do not often get the chance to do so.  This activity sometimes requires a great deal of patience.  There have been days where the fish are really biting like in late May or early June when the bluegill come near the shoreline to spawn.  Reeling them in at that point is easy no matter which bait you use. It’s almost like you can use a bare hook. There are other days when essentially you are just drowning worms.  The fish aren’t hitting no matter which bait you try – that’s the patience part that can easily turn into frustration.  Success in actually landing fish is based on several factors such as time of season, water depth and temperature and wind direction (Fish bite best when the wind is from the west and fish bite least when the wind is from the east).  The most important factor is the bait that is used.  This can be live bait such as night crawlers, bee moth, and crickets.  Artificial bait such as flies, spinners, and spoons are also widely used.  It really depends on the type of fish that you are after.  What works for one does not necessarily work for another.  Whatever bait you use, you have to fish before you catch.  Some days this activity is called fishing; other days is actually catching.  You can’t have one without the other.

Teachers should never use the same bait day after day to capture kids.  You have to change your bait to capture kids. What works for one does not necessarily work for another.  Change up your strategies. Differentiate based upon student data.  As in fishing, sometimes you just have to change your location.  Not everything needs to be done in front of a white board.  It’s okay to get your class out of the classroom and find other areas in or out of the building.  We can take “walking fieldtrips” by utilizing the wonderful things we have around us here in the county hub.  Get your students out of their seats; find ways to present the lesson.  Not all learning is confined to a 30 x 30 space.  Cast out in the deeper water often; that is where the big gains are.  Remember to work the weedy areas because that is where the “hiders” are that want to fly under the radar.  What works best for one does not necessarily work for another. Whatever teaching bait (strategy) that you use, you have to fish (try it) before you catch (engage) your students.  Be patient, your catch will come.