THE REAL “COMMON CORE” OF TEACHING
Yes. I used the forbidden phrase. But let’s use those two words as if CCSS had never existed. In fact let’s ask what the true common core of teaching should be.
Young children, as in the forest schools covered in this NYT article (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/31/fashion/outdoor-preschool-in-nature.html?login=email&_r=0&mtrref=query.nytimes.com), are free to ask and discover as their natural curiosity drives them.
Shouldn’t that be at the common core of teaching from pre K all the way through grad school? I am not advocating living in the forest all ones life. I am advocating that we already know how to make that natural curiosity work in all learning environments, including the classroom. Curiosity revolves around questions.
Imagine instead of memorizing or preparing for tests, regardless of what technology is available, and at any age, we consider how to get all children to learn how to learn and love it by doing the following. If they can do these, then I propose they will be college, career, and life ready.
How do we build on their natural curiosity, not destroy it? To what extent do we use both intrinsic and /or extrinsic motivation?
ASK:
What is the big question they want to know? These can range from why is the sky blue to… how can I build the tallest tower using the 25 blocks on the rug to ... to what extent is the 2016 presidential race different from or Schools Matter: THE REAL “COMMON CORE” OF TEACHING:
