Welcome to Teachers At Risk
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Sep
24
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Doug Johnson invites us to reflect upon how we bring joy to learning in our classroom, computer lab or library. Wow, what a question.
With all that emphasis on getting those test score up, I don’t there is much thought given to bringing the joy of learning into the classroom. I could be wrong though. Sometimes, I can get just a tad cynical even though I’m usually pretty optimistic. (Is there such a thing as a cynical optimist?) I see lots of thought given to getting those test scores up. I think in our desperation we forgot about the joy of learning.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to belittle all the effort that educators and administrators are making to get those test scores up. Last year I spent a lot of time around that large oval table along with other members of the 6-10 math literacy, assessment and alignment committee members and even teaching one of those Counting On You class after school to try to help students meet the provincial standards. We do care about the students as people, not just as test scores. We do talk about engaging the students. We do talk about transformational practices.
- helping students to determine important ideas in what they read
- using graphic organizers and frameworks such as charts, diagrams and timelines
- using manipulatives such as cube-a-links and pattern blocks as thinking tools in mathematics
- vocabulary development
- explicitly teaching students test-taking skills
But, I don’t remember talking about the joy of learning.
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Toronto Reading Council
