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Tami's Animoto

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Section 2

The main concept of this section is that factual knowledge must precede skill. It begins by saying that facts must be taught. When we consider someone smart they are using their critical thinking skills whereas if they are just spouting off facts they come off as boring. The book defines thinking as combing information in new ways. Critical thinking skills such as reasoning and problem solving are mixed with facts that are stored in long term memory. We need to make sure our students are receiving the background knowledge that we can mix critical thinking skills.



In order to understand what someone is stating we need to make sure they have background knowledge. The author also discusses the mind being able to tying several pieces of material together or otherwise known as chunking. This can only happen if the mind has the factual knowledge to cover this information.



Background knowledge is also needed for cognitive skills. People use memory to solve problems on a regular basis. Strategies in all areas could not be applied if they did not have the background knowledge for the subject.



Those who have knowledge in an area gain more because of what they already know. We also remember more if the subject area has meaning to us. Even if we don't realize it happening our minds connects what we are reading to what we already know. Our mind works on the cues about the information that we have in our memories.



Rather than asking what students need to be taught we should ask what knowledge would yield the largest cognitive benefit. There are two ways to answer this question. For reading students need to know what information the writers assume they know and the writer leaves out. The second answer deals with core subjects and their information. The author states that students must learn the concepts that come up again and again. This deals with unifying all subjects and their ideas.

The book suggests that the goal should be that they, the students, have the background knowledge to carry out tasks we give them and the critical thinking skills needed. The author also states the having a vast amount of knowledge about the skill is best but having some is better than not having any at all. We also need to encourage the students to read whatever they can and do whatever it takes to get them to do so.

He also states that knowledge can happen by simply exposing them to the subject manner. The students will also do better if they are exposed early to the material. The author states, "There are no shortcuts and no alternatives to trying to increase the factual knowledge that the child has not picked up at home." The book also states that the knowledge must be meaningful and not just memorized as a list of information.

I agree with the author that if the information is something that the students are familiar with then they will learn the subject manner easier. I also understand the fact that if they can tye all the information together it makes sense. I do wish there was a way to make all parents see that early exposure to learning is ideal. Also that they need to encourage the children to read whatever they can at home. Overall encouragement to learn the material is important from their families.

Pat's Animoto

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Book Summary

Daniel Willingham caught my attention from the first chapter of Why Don't Students Like School? with his statement "the brain is not made for thinking". What? This contradicted everything I had believed about the brain. As I continued to read he started to explain his thinking. Overall our brain's primary function is to coordinate all the complex body systems. On page 5 of his book, Daniel Willingham sums up how our brain instantly takes in a visual picture. While this is instantaneous, thinking is slow, requires effort, and is uncertain. When I am thinking about solving a math problem, I can't think about something else at the same time. I also have to think about every step and even when I solve the problem, the answer may not be correct. When my brain takes in a visual picture of a flower, it does it in an instant and I can do other things while looking at the flower. My brain also doesn't confuse what a flower looks like or that I am looking at a flower. Although I was confused by his initial statement about the brain not being made for thinking, after reading his explanation I have to agree with his statements.

The book talks about all aspects of the brain including memory, both working and long-term, to how students need to have facts before they can become skillful at a topic. One idea presented in Chapter 8 is that of our intelligence being able to be changed. This differs a lot from most people's thoughts. If we praise students' effort, children can change their intelligence over time for the better. Some other ideas presented throughout the book are regarding what most people have long known. The more we practice something, the better we become. Finally a concept that I have been learning a lot about over my first year and that is children learning something new in relation to what they already know. I really enjoyed reading this chapter. As a new teacher, I have been asking questions to prompt my students to discuss what they already know about a subject before we start a topic or to use their schema as we are studying the topic. This book should be read cover to cover; however, if you are stretched for time, you can pick up and read one specific chapter or just use the great teaching strategies presented at the back of each chapter.

Being a first year teacher, I have been trying to understand what the best way for my students to learn. Do I let them explore first or do I present the information? If I provide the information, how do I do it in an engaging way which will get my students thinking? Daniel Willingham's book is great for new and veteran teachers alike because it presents his cognitive research on how the brain and memory function. By reading this book teachers begin to understand how students think. Each chapter builds upon our understanding of the brain, so that you start to develop a real understanding of the brain's inner workings. Incorporated at the end of each chapter are multiple suggestions on how teachers can use the information presented to better improve their teaching strategies. This book is a valuable read because it seamlessly integrates understanding with instant hands-on teaching strategies. A definite must read for any teacher who wants to engage their students in active learning.

I chose this image because to me the gears show the mind at work. In order for the mind to be a well oiled machine it needs the right lubricant to keep going. If not properly taken care of it will freeze right where it is. If we keep the students interest the gears churn and the machine works. If the students become bored the gears jam and quit working.

Book Reflection

While reading Daniel T. Willingham's "Why Don't Students Like School", I found several concepts in the book that made me "think" about teaching in new ways. When I called Borders to see if they had this book in stock, the person that was helping me started to giggle when I gave her the title of the book. After a good chuckle, she shared with me that both of her parents have been teachers for 25 years and ask this very question constantly.

One concept that caught my attention was when Willingham mentions that he has always been bothered by the advice to "make it relevant to students. He provides two reasons for this. First he discusses the fact that all content may not be relevant to student's lives at the time. He questions whether the Epic of Gilgamesh can be connected to students lives in a way they can understand now. Second, Willingham states that if a teacher cannot convince students some material is relevant to them, then should that material be taught? At times it is really difficult to make relevant connections and when the connections are not sound,then it may appear phony or weak.

While it is important to make connections between what student's are asked to think (learn) about and their lives, I think that constant focus on making these connections may lead to an expectation that "if something doesn't relate to a student's life, then there is no need to pay much attention to it". I have always hoped for my own children and my students when I was in the classroom, that learning would always "feel good" to them. Students should feel a sense of accomplishment and confidence while learning. I believe that one of the most important factors in accomplishing this, is the relationships that teachers build with students. If students feel genuinely cared for and respected by the teacher, then they will gain more confidence and value in their learning process. If the teacher "believes students can learn" then students will see the value in learning. I also think that when teachers show their own enthusiasm for learning,that it is contagious and students will more likely be enthusiastic about learning.

I very much enjoyed reading this book and found myself "thinking" about how we learn in new ways. I found myself looking at and thinking about a few educational ideas I had previously considered pretty sound,in new ways.