Two interesting items
this week:
First, a
Trinity trustee sent me this link to
a YouTube video. The short video is from a poetry slam contest
in New York that captures a number
of diversity concepts I touched on Tuesday: the
variety of experiences that shape self-identity,
the importance of teaching kids to think from multiple
perspectives, the tendency to think one's experience is the norm
and everyone else's is lesser.
Second, key
quotes from a recent article in the Wall Street Journal entitled Why Tough
Teachers Get Good Results, in which the author reminisces about her
tough—but not abusive—high school orchestra teacher in the 1960s as food for
thought for educators in the 21st century. (See how many you agree
with and which ones you disagree with.)
A Little Pain
is Good For You: The study by psychologist Anders Ericsson showing that 10,000
hours of practice is needed to attain true expertise also found that the path
to proficiency requires “constructive, even painful, feedback.” High-performing
violinists, surgeons, computer programmers, and chess masters “deliberately
picked unsentimental coaches who would challenge them and drive them to higher
levels of performance.”
Memorization
Pays Off: Fluency in basic math facts is the foundation of higher achievement,
but many American students aren’t learning their time tables and basic math
facts. One reason Asian students do so much better in math is the hours of
drill in their schools.
Failure is Part
of the Learning Process: In a 2012 study, French sixth graders were given
extremely challenging anagram problems. One group was told that failure and
persistence were a normal part of the learning proves, and this group
consistently outperformed their peers on subsequent assignments. American
parents and educators worry too much about failure being psychologically
damaging and haven’t given children the right messages about failure being
intrinsic to the learning process.
Strictness
Works: A study of LA teachers whose students did exceptionally well found that
they combined strictness with high expectations. Their core belief was “Every
student in my room is underperforming based on their potential and it’s my job
to do something about it—and I can do something about it.”
Creativity is
Not Spontaneous Combustion: Most creative geniuses work ferociously and, through
a series of incremental steps, achieve thingsthat appear (to the outside world)
like epiphanies and breakthroughs. Creativity is built on a foundation of hard
work and grit.
Grit is More
Important Than Talent: Angela Duckworth’s study found that the best predictor
of success is passion and perseverance for the long-term goals, not innate
talent. Another key element of grit is students’ belief that they have the
ability to change and improve, and this can be inculcated by teachers who share
that belief.
Praise Must Be
Strategic: As Carol Dweck has found, complimenting students for being “smart”
has negative consequences, whereas praising a students for being a “hard
worker” leads to greater effort and success.
Moderate Stress
Makes Your Stronger: Researchers have found that being exposed to challenges
builds resistance and confidence. With a demanding teacher students pick up an
underlying faith in their ability to do better.
Enjoy the
weekend!
Joe
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