Comments on: Carefully Choose Your Verb http://www.quisitivity.org/2009/01/carefully-choose-your-verb/ A Blog For and About Learners, Designers, and Teachers Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:48:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Gerald http://www.quisitivity.org/2009/01/carefully-choose-your-verb/comment-page-/#comment-158 Gerald Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:07:56 +0000 http://www.aungst.org/gerald/?p=93#comment-158 @Kelly: So much is done in the name of “thinking skills” and “critical thinking,” but when you peel it apart, it’s just one more rote skill or worksheet. I see teachers who are far more concerned with students filling out all the right answers on the handout than in getting them using some brain cells. But I also see teachers who challenge their students and don’t teach down to them and dance that fine line between stretching students and pushing them beyond their limits. Those are the teachers who I pay attention to and who I try to model my own teaching after. It’s interesting: the longer I’m in this profession, the more I realize that I have far more to learn than I’ll ever be able to. I don’t ever want to get to the point where I feel like I’ve figured it all out and can’t learn something from a colleague, a student, or parent. @Amy: Thanks for the comments. I see kids come in to my gifted classroom who thrive there but only survive in the regular classroom because the light has been extinguished. I'm working hard to get out into classrooms more so that I can start doing what I can to keep some sparks going. I'll admit that I have days (ok, weeks or months sometimes) when it's hard to keep it going in myself let alone in my students. But as I've said before in many different places, I'm building a network of colleagues who help lift me up and keep me going when I start to sink. I'm glad the wheels are turning. I try through my blogs to inspire, encourage, and share my own struggles for just that reason. I don't always succeed, with my students or my fellow teachers, but when something clicks with someone, like this apparently did with you and Kelly, it makes it worth doing. Out of these conversations will come real growth and success. @Kelly: So much is done in the name of “thinking skills” and “critical thinking,” but when you peel it apart, it’s just one more rote skill or worksheet. I see teachers who are far more concerned with students filling out all the right answers on the handout than in getting them using some brain cells. But I also see teachers who challenge their students and don’t teach down to them and dance that fine line between stretching students and pushing them beyond their limits. Those are the teachers who I pay attention to and who I try to model my own teaching after.

It’s interesting: the longer I’m in this profession, the more I realize that I have far more to learn than I’ll ever be able to. I don’t ever want to get to the point where I feel like I’ve figured it all out and can’t learn something from a colleague, a student, or parent.

@Amy: Thanks for the comments. I see kids come in to my gifted classroom who thrive there but only survive in the regular classroom because the light has been extinguished. I’m working hard to get out into classrooms more so that I can start doing what I can to keep some sparks going. I’ll admit that I have days (ok, weeks or months sometimes) when it’s hard to keep it going in myself let alone in my students. But as I’ve said before in many different places, I’m building a network of colleagues who help lift me up and keep me going when I start to sink.

I’m glad the wheels are turning. I try through my blogs to inspire, encourage, and share my own struggles for just that reason. I don’t always succeed, with my students or my fellow teachers, but when something clicks with someone, like this apparently did with you and Kelly, it makes it worth doing. Out of these conversations will come real growth and success.

]]> By: Amy Crawford http://www.quisitivity.org/2009/01/carefully-choose-your-verb/comment-page-1/#comment-157 Amy Crawford Wed, 28 Jan 2009 02:03:32 +0000 http://www.aungst.org/gerald/?p=93#comment-157 How about reach, not just teach? I want to inspire... motivate... lead by example...heal, or a least not harm... listen,...I love your writing style! You've definitely started the wheels turning in my head. I am a former elementary teacher who "graduated" to middle school. My first year in 8th grade, I had some of the same students I had taught in third grade. I must say I was shocked with the change in them. Their light for learning had all but gone out. They were "surviving" school, not thriving in school. I'd love to share more about this...Processing my thoughts now. Thank you for a great blog. I will pass along to my fellow teachers. How about reach, not just teach? I want to inspire… motivate… lead by example…heal, or a least not harm… listen,…I love your writing style! You’ve definitely started the wheels turning in my head. I am a former elementary teacher who “graduated” to middle school. My first year in 8th grade, I had some of the same students I had taught in third grade. I must say I was shocked with the change in them. Their light for learning had all but gone out. They were “surviving” school, not thriving in school. I’d love to share more about this…Processing my thoughts now. Thank you for a great blog. I will pass along to my fellow teachers.

]]> By: Kelly Hines http://www.quisitivity.org/2009/01/carefully-choose-your-verb/comment-page-1/#comment-156 Kelly Hines Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:38:22 +0000 http://www.aungst.org/gerald/?p=93#comment-156 Great post Gerald. You bring to light a great debate... learning v. teaching. We need to reconsider our loose usage of the word "thinking" as well. We all say that we want our kids to "think," but do we? Great post Gerald. You bring to light a great debate… learning v. teaching. We need to reconsider our loose usage of the word “thinking” as well. We all say that we want our kids to “think,” but do we?

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