Yes. I used the forbidden phrase. But
let’s use those two words as if CCSS had never existed. In fact let’s ask what
the true common core of teaching should be.
Young children, as in the forest
schools covered in this NYT article (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/31/fashion/outdoor-preschool-in-nature.html?login=email&_r=0&mtrref=query.nytimes.com),
are free to ask and discover as their natural curiosity drives them.
Shouldn’t that be at the common core of
teaching from pre K all the way through grad school? I am not advocating living
in the forest all ones life. I am
advocating that we already know how to make that natural curiosity work in all
learning environments, including the classroom. Curiosity revolves around
questions.
Imagine instead of memorizing or
preparing for tests, regardless of what technology is available, and at any
age, we consider how to get all children to learn how to learn and love it by
doing the following. If they can do these, then I propose they will be college,
career, and life ready.
How do we build on their natural
curiosity, not destroy it? To what extent do we use both intrinsic and /or
extrinsic motivation?
ASK:
What is the big question they
want to know? These can range from why is the sky blue to… how can I build the
tallest tower using the 25 blocks on the rug to ... to what extent is the 2016 presidential race
different from or similar to presidential races throughout American history, or
how would you define quantum physics.
ASK:
What do they need to understand
to answer those questions?
ASK:
What knowledge must they acquire
to understand how to answer those questions?
ASK:
How and where will they acquire
the knowledge and understanding necessary to answer their big question or the
one posed by their teacher? What are the questions they need to ask to gain the
knowledge and understanding required?
ASK:
What skills must they have or
acquire to do all of the above?
I submit to you that these steps hold
true at all ages and abilities. They hold true for toy block builders, forest
pre K kids, explorers and pioneers, inventors, scientists, and even
presidential candidates…. Maybe especially for them.
The means to these ends are endless,
regardless of available technology. All involve some kind of wonder, sense of
discovery, trial and error, legwork, homework, or research dependent on age,
skills, and cognitive abilities. The means also depend on how each child learns
best and the particular question asked. The means can be visual, tactile,
linear (reading) or aural. It is our job
as teachers to help each of our charges find the right means for them and the
subject matter.
Finally, within our classes we know we
have children with a range of both cognitive abilities and skills. Some have a
high degree of both, some a low degree of both. Some have a high degree of
cognitive abilities, but a low degree of basic skills, and some have a low
degree of cognitive abilities, but a high degree of basic skills. For us the challenge is to be able to work
with all and each so that they keep that natural curiosity that drives real
learning and make sure that each child develops both the highest degree of
cognitive abilities and basic skills they are capable of.
If we follow this “common core” of techniques,
why does anyone need a Common Core forced on us by state
governors, Achieve Inc., and the federal DOE?
The placement of the article about preschool without walls reveals the Times attitude. It is in the Style Section, along with stories about a new party spot in Brooklyn, a temporary-tattoo parlor for hip families, a Xanax for your skin product,a luxury mall across the street from One World Trade Center. Thus the Times lets readers know that such preschools are for the affluent. Poor preschoolers must be taught to obey.
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