“I have a clutch of students who read for pleasure, yet bizarrely hand in assignments only sporadically. Let’s call them “Readers.” These are the kids who take home The Kite Runner and read the whole thing in two days—then never write any of their journal responses. Their grades do not reflect their abilities. However, these students always score at or near the very top of the class on these standardized tests.”  

This hints at an even deeper gift that these students have – one that feeds their love of reading – and that is the innate (or is it taught? modeled? suggested?) gift of CURIOSITY. These people do not read because they have to – “have to” doesn’t factor in that heavily if they are not writing their journal responses and earning poor grades. They are reading because of something else. That SOMETHING is also leading them to score at the top of these assesments that Mr. Brown refers to. Freedom of thought, freedom from the slavish “do only what you are told to do and nothing more” and a freedom to pursue knowledge and adventure (what else?) through books fuels these students’ success. As a parent, how do you foster CURIOSITY?

 - Heather

1. Science tools.

2. Dirty kids.

3. Excitement.

4. Mystery.

5. Discovery.

6.Higher-Level Thinking.

In fact, one student said, “This is probably the best science class ever,” (Angus Stewart). What is all this referring to? One teacher teaching science the way it should be taught: in the field. Here’s an excerpt from Anderson, South Carolina’s Independent Mail:

Teacher Nancy Hughes said all of her third-grade students would be digging up the past as part of their science lessons. “We’ve just finished a unit on rocks and fossils, and we’re getting ready to start a unit on soil, so this exercise sort of bridges both of those units,” she said. “And we’ve talked about being paleontologists and archaeologists so this gives them a chance to see what it’s like to do a real dig.”

DIG IT?

- Heather

1. Kids learn more and forget less.
2. Parents who work can cope a little better.
3. There is no reason (not educationally, not practically) in today’s world for the school calendar that most of us currently keep.

Secondly, the school that the author refers to in the article uses its intercessions to focus curriculum around “big ideas.” If you are asking “what is the big idea?” then you’re not alone. Basically, curriculum focused this way allows an interdisciplinary inquiry into larger issues that affect all areas of ‘traditional’ curriculum.

One example of a “big idea” might be something like “What is the relationship between governments and innovation?” Such a broad question can encompass history, science, literature, art, mathematics, civics, and much more. It also leaves the student, after delving into various aspects of the “big idea,” with a firm impression of (in this case) those relationships throughout history.

This type of inquiry allows students to make evaluations and to become thinkers for our future – by “our” here I mean civilization.

- Heather

“Advanced science students at Zionsville High School extracted and analyzed dolphin DNA this month in an ongoing collaboration with the Indianapolis Zoo, the University of Indianapolis and other research facilities.” IndyStar.com

 Purpose – check. Relevance – check. Inquiry – check. Intrinsically motivating – check. I only hope that I can foster these types of experiences for my own kids and as a partner with the museums I consult with about education.

- Heather

Constructivist learning, experiential learning, whatever you want to call good teaching where the student is intimately involved as meaning-maker is desirable for the development of true understanding. UC Davis has some wonderful resources for teachers, home schoolers, or anyone involved in children’s learning.

Check out these three training modules from UC Davis.

What happened?

I wonder what would happen if….?

How do you know….?

Why do you think ….. did ……?

What evidence supports your idea……?

What next?

Open ended questions guide inquiry, discovery, and our natural curiosity about the world. Use them today with your kids, or post more here!