Wow! Someday, when I have more than an hour, I need to re-read this...not just deeply skim. Parts of me, whole-heartedly agree with various sections, other parts have me shaking my head and contemplating whether I just had a history lesson in one of the biggest conspiracies of the past century. A conspiracy that continues to this day!
Here are a few one-liners or sections that caught my attention.
#16 "Learning is not done to you. Learning is something you choose to do." As a teacher, as parent, I completely agree. I can show and demonstrate how to zip a coat (yes, I'm going basic here) but my students will not learn until they actively choose to learn and participate. I know that I have said this to my own children - If you don't try ___, you'll never learn ___.
#51 How They Saved Lego
This one really struck my attention, perhaps because I see this all too often. In my kindergarten class, I have students that are so focused on something being right. I know that didn't come from me. I believe in discovery, process. Yes, there are times when things have to be completed a certain way. But in many cases, I want my students to know that there are multiple solutions to a problem, different ways to create an art-piece, a gazillion and one ways to build a Lego car-airplane they fly around the classroom during an indoor recess. Please parents, please stop worrying about instructions every once in a while. Let your child explore, create. You are there to guide, not complete the project for them.
#112 The schisms over blocks
See above! Seriously, I wanted to give a standing ovation after reading this. Blocks in Kindergarten? Sorry, only during indoor recess now...or math when they're the small ones and used as manipulatives. I have a little one this year, who, at the beginning of the year, asked almost everyday (around 10 am), "But teacher, when can I play? I just want to play." He doesn't ask that anymore. I'm sorry sweetie. I want you to play. I want you to expand your imagination, your communication skills, your spacial-reasoning skills. But I have to worry about your reading skills. I have to make sure you can pass a reading test when you're in third grade. Otherwise, you'll have to repeat third grade. And my evaluation/pay is tied to your academic success. So, let's work on these sight words now. You can play when you get home.
What are we doing to this generation? How can we expect them to be innovative and creative when we're too busy teaching to the test?
