Can you relate to this tired teacher?
Last Friday we contrasted “survivalist” from “thrivalist” to gauge where we are on the path toward transformation. Too many talented educators go through each day on the survivalist end of the spectrum. We can’t transform in this state of being.
When you’re overwhelmed with the amount of strategies pushed by your school or in your own research, use these questions to see the bigger picture.
Find the universal principle by asking:
1. Why or how does this strategy encourage authentic learning?
2. Are there specific circumstances where this principle is best applied?
3. What is the relationship between this principle and (insert different principle here)?
Here are a few examples. Notice how the principle allows us to see more possibilities and “mix things up” to prevent the students from getting bored while at the same time freeing us from trying to do too many strategies in one lesson.
|
Strategies |
Principle |
|
Activate prior knowledge to prepare the brain for new learning |
|
Allow processing time when exposing students to new information |
|
Provide opportunities for students to teach and learn from their peers |
|
Curiosity drives authentic learning, and curiosity is cultivated through questions |
We’ll discuss the false conflict winners tomorrow. Please vote here.
Post below: What strategy can you turn into a deeper principle about learning?
Is that you in the pic? 🙂
Sent from my iPhone
Hi Dr. B – No, I found it on the internet but did think the white Mac computer and the diet coke were disturbingly similar for all three of us!