Most teachers are taught to write objectives for their lessons or units. Most textbooks (which drive most teachers lesson planning) have objectives written at the beginning of each chapter. Let’s look at an example: Students will understand the taxonomic classification system used by scientists and be able explain the phylogenetic relationship among organisms. Technically, itContinue reading “Why Are Essential Questions Essential for Good Teaching?”
Category Archives: Educator
Let Them Have the Cookie!
Do you know the children’s book, if you give a mouse a cookie? A boy gives a cookie to a mouse. Then the mouse needs a glass of milk. Then a litany of requests: a straw (to drink the milk), a mirror (to avoid a milk mustache), nail scissors (to trim his hair), and aContinue reading “Let Them Have the Cookie!”
Assessment and Standards
Assessment and standards. Ugh. Do we really have to talk about standards and tests used to assess students’ progress on standards? I have to say I am exhausted by this topic. But I also know that it isn’t going away. It is only going to get more exhausting. While working with the next generation ofContinue reading “Assessment and Standards”
Talking is not Teaching
I was having a discussion with student in on of my education classes the other day. They were telling me about some of their experiences in their practicum–which is when they spend 20 hours during the term visiting a classroom. Their time hopefully is a mixture of observing the classroom, sort of educational ethnography ifContinue reading “Talking is not Teaching”
