Practical ideas for teaching students the skills they need to really learn
This vital teachers' resource answers such questions as "Can intelligence be developed? Do teacher expectations shape student learning? How can I make learning 'stick' for my students?" Drawing from theory and research in learning, this book offers clear, practical guidance along with inspirational ideas to show how teachers can enable students to gain both the cognitive competence and confidence needed to succeed academically.
- Offers techniques for students to develop their reading, writing, and math abilities
- Provides suggestions for helping students build perseverance and diligent work habits
- Helps cultivate students' reasoning skills for problem solving
- Includes ideas for teachers to improve their students' verbal and written skills
The book applies to any and all learners, including special needs students, and is richly illustrated with stories, activities, and examples from across the curricula.
Table of Contents:
About the Author vii
About the National Institute for Learning Development ix
Foreword xi
Introduction xv
1 The Intelligence Dilemma 1
Opening the Skylight 3
A Conceptual Understanding of Intelligence 4
Defining Intelligence 5
Theory One: Cast Building 5
Theory Two: Brick Building 5
Theory Three: Mosaic Model 6
Classroom Activity 8
The Root of Intelligence 10
Intellectual Potential? 10
Mediated Learning 11
Practical Application 15
The First Fable 15
Prepare the Lesson 16
Project the Text of the Fable 16
Build Intelligence 17
Develop Cognitive Competence 17
Reflection 19
2 A Way Out of the Pressure Cooker 21
The Pressures are Real 24
A Survey 25
Identify the Pressures 26
Find the Way Out 27
The Need for Meaningfulness 28
Surface Versus Meaningful Knowledge 29
The Case for Cognitive Modifiability 29
Practical Applications 31
Reflection 34
3 What Every Teacher Needs 37
A Survey 42
Love of Reading 42
Intellectual Curiosity 43
Cultural Literacy 45
Love of Learning 46
Competence and Confidence 47
Reflection 47
4 The Big Picture 51
Analysis or Synthesis? 54
Back to the Classroom 57
The Power of the Lie 58
Rethinking Those Rows 58
Real-Life Challenges 59
The Case for Handwriting 60
An Exercise 61
Practical Application 62
Reflection 64
5 Setting Students Free 67
Ratcheting Up, Not Dumbing Down 69
The First Floor 71
The Second Floor 71
The Third Floor 71
Putting in the Skylight 72
An Interesting Lesson 74
Practical Applications 74
Meaningful Connections 76
Realistic Dreams 78
Reflection 79
6 The Power of Oral Language 81
The Socratic Method 83
The Research 84
Practical Applications 87
A New Kind of Learner 90
Habits of Mind 92
Reflection 94
7 Moving Beyond Memorization 95
Memory Systems 97
Memory Types 101
Practical Application 105
The Text 105
The Lesson 106
Reflection 109
8 Those Inner Voices 111
Inner Speech 115
Executive Function 117
Active Working Memory 118
Practical Application #1 118
The Case for Grammar 121
Practical Application #2 122
Reflection 122
9 Potential or Propensity? 125
Potential 127
Propensity 128
Building Confidence 129
Practical Applications 130
Mediating a Feeling of Competence 131
Practical Application #1 132
More Practical Applications 135
Reflection 136
10 Rediscovering the Joy 139
What is Your Skylight? 142
Where are the Scholars? 142
The Power of the Fable 143
Cultural Relevancy 143
Struggling Learners 144
Consider Your Climate 144
Watch Your Language! 145
Finding Margin 146
One More Fable 147
Professional Joy Restorers 148
A Final Word 149
References 151
Index 153
About the Author :
THE AUTHOR
Kathleen Ricards Hopkins, Ed.D., is executive director of the National Institute for Learning Development (NILD), an international organization dedicated to meeting the needs of students who have difficulty learning, including those with and without specific learning disabilities.
