Going From Confused to Confident

Going from confused............

to confident.

Brianna, Summer, Belle, Mahrukh and Jessica were working on an experiment with electricity.

They kept asking me for my help.

I would walk over, look at what they were working on, and say "hmmmm".

I wouldn't say anything more until one of them began to think out loud about what they might be doing wrong or what they might try next.

Then I would quietly back away and watch watch them work from "the sidelines".

This scenario happened maybe four or five times before they achieved success.

They were able to experience a true problem-solving exercise by me keeping my mouth shut, proving once again that the teacher is there to guide, and the students are there to talk.

Being confused is a critical part of education. Simply sitting in your seat and memorizing what the teacher says is not learning.

A teacher's job is to educate. This involves putting the student in a state of disequilibrium, or confusion, and requiring them to think their way out of it.

Ryan mentioned once that I can't give the class homework that I haven't told them how to do. Telling them "how" to do it is taking away their opportunity to problem-solve and do real thinking.

In this way Ryan and others have learned to open their own windows of opportunity....

They start with what they do know about the problem....

Then begin to think what might be possible solutions.

It's OK to be wrong in this class.

It's not OK not to think.

This "not thinking" includes memorizing facts and data but not understanding them enough to USE them to solve problems.

The world has enough computers. It needs real thinkers and real problem solvers. I am proud to stand up and declare to the world they are receiving 20 powerful thinkers and problem solvers!

Bridget and Jessica actively reading to each other. These two are among the best readers and writers in the entire country. Now that's a fact to know! I have been blessed beyond words to have had all of you this year. I can't imagine a better class next year.........but you know I will try :-)