Robert L. Fried talks about the need for passionate teachers. I agree wholeheartedly. Schools need more colorful, passionate teachers. A teacher's enthusiasm is contagious. I appreciate his idea that teachers should "act as partners in learning, rather than as "experts in the field." Especially with a student-centered teaching approach, students' enthusiasm and interest blossoms if they feel they're collaborating with the teacher and not just being force-fed information.
Tarry Lindquist stresses the need for social studies teaching to be integrative. It's evident that social studies connects completely with other subjects and that this integration makes the learning experience more interesting and meaningful to students.
I find her writing to be quite thought-provoking. She shows a clear connection between the need for an integrated social studies program and how it enables students to learn powerful concepts and understanding. Students learn to be good problem solvers and wise decision makers. They learn to ask genuine questions. They develop social understanding. They learn to listen with a critical ear and value an informed approach. Learning is not merely knowledge to be memorized in the classroom but deeper understanding to be utilized throughout life.
Michelle
I adore quotes so I will share one of my favorites:
"It is the supreme art of the teacher
to awaken joy in creative expression
and knowledge"
Albert Einstein
to awaken joy in creative expression
and knowledge"
Albert Einstein
5 comments:
Yes, yes, yes. Thanks for all that.
I completely agree with the stress that was put on integrative teaching in the student centered environment. This type of teaching environment is what fosters the ability for students to gain deep understanding of the topics at hand. It seems like we all came away with the same feelings of agreement!
Cara
Michelle,
As I reviewed my notes on Lindquist's first chapter I had underlined that piece on genuine questions. It is through those questions that we can engage our students. By seeking answers to those that we place our students on the path to becoming good problem solvers and life long learners.
I have used that Einstein quote oh so many times as it just sums up education beautifully. Awakening joy is what I want to do daily. For joy is different for every student.
Thanks for all that you bring to our class. We are a powerful group of committed women.
Michelle,
I like how nicely you sum up one of the main points of a "passionate teacher." A teacher whose enthusiasum is contagious. I think sometimes that is all students need to become motivated to learn, having a teacher who is so excited about the subject they can't help but wonder what is so exciting.
Once again, I'm in agreement with everything here. Thinking about my own experience in Elementary school, I now realize that my favorite teachers were the ones that were able to integrate the curriculum, in a way that as a kid made it feel like we didn't do work at all we just hung out, but now i realize that they were just so expert at what they did they just made he work so fun that we didn't realize we were doing it.
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