Chptrs 5 & 6 Curriculum and Instruction

Chptr 5:

"It is the mandate of the teacher to teach...and our tools are curriculum and instruction" (Fullfilling The Promise, pg. 56). But, unless we work to know each of our students, teach to each of our students based on what we know about them, provide engaging instruction, provide guidence and scaffolding necessary for each student to rise to a higher level of understanding whether they be a lower level learner or a higher level learner, have high expectations of each student and expect them to grow, provide each student with meaningful learning, and affirm each student as a valued and important asset in the classroom, we will never be able to motivate our students to be curious about learning, partake in thoughtful and complex thinking, perform to the best of their ability, or value what it is they are being taught.

Chptr 6:

I really like the idea of having students make personal connections to their learning as Mr. Johnson did with his students. From my own experiences in learning, I know I learn better and "take it in" when I'm able to make a personal connection. Throughout my education classes, I've been able to make a lot of connections through my own children's experiences (because I'm too old to remember my own experiences in grade school :] ) and my learning has been enhanced because I can relate to the idea better. It "sticks" with me longer. I like the use of Meaningful Audiences. As I was reading that section, I kept thinking of ways I could do that for my students. For example, I think it would be neat to do an "art exhibit" (connecting it to the curriculum) for parents one night after school to give my students the opportunity to do their best work and have it on display. I'd also love to be able to work with other teachers and provide their students and my students the opportunity to show their work, or teach each other a concept, class to class. I also really, really liked the idea of providing demanding work and scaffold it. I used to coddel (sp?) my own children or basically do their homework for them because it was quicker and less painful, but then I realized that it doesn't do them or me any good and only creates a black hole of learning and responsibility. If I don't push them to take the time to read instructions, think about thinking, hold them accountable for their learning, be responsible to do the work, then I am only creating a hole for them to fall into and possibly never escape from. I realize that with proper scaffolding, work should be demanding and create a healthy level of anxiety.