With so many media outlets, and each with its own “spin” on the content presented , it has become imperative that we cultivate critical thinking skills in our students . The fifth, but not least significant , “look for” listed on the @gcouros list for eight things to look for in an innovative classroom has become an essential skill in a world full of fake and real news. Determining the truth is an actual skill, and it requires a level of efficiency when answering “who’s telling you the truth” so that you can continue to work and solve problems. So what does this mean to us in the classroom? At the high school level, stepping up the teacher’s and the student’s questioning skills is probably the most powerful way to foster thinking skills in your classroom. Questioning is the foundation for thinking , and there’s nothing like a thought-provoking Essential Question or Socratic Circle exercise to get the stud...
This past October I decided to shadow a student at Governor Mifflin HS . I started thinking about shadowing a student after reading the #Innovator'sMindset by @GeorgeCouros . In his book Mr. Couros describes "empathy" as a key component to innovation , and that innovation in education starts by asking 'What is best for students?" I couldn't imagine a better way to build empathy for both students and teachers than to attempt to switch my lens and see the school through a student's eyes- even if for only a day! A few weeks later one of the Assistant Superintendents tossed out this exact challenge to the entire cabinet during one of our monthly meetings. He came across some literature and thought that this would be a great experience for our administrative team. I was so excited and immediately started thinking about how it might work. I knew I wanted to create a partnership with my stu...
