Again, I want to thank you for your patience. As it was explained to me, during the account roll-over a "switch" was inadvertently hit that blocked these types of sites for staff. All fixed now, and if you see Justin Johnson from IT give him a big high five for finding a solution to the problem!
This week we are reading Chapte FOUR- Building Cognitive Capacity.
This chapter discussed different elements of cognition and intelligence and five actions to help strengthen these skills. What were your thoughts when the author mentioned Buschkuehl & Jaegii's statement that these skills are not fixed but malleable? Do you feel as though you have time in your classroom where you can help students strengthen these skills or do you feel a bigger pressure to focus more on standards and curriculum?
Let's have a friendly debate. If you could only pick one action step to work on this semester, which one is most important to improve with your students? Which one makes the biggest difference later in adult life? What influenced your decision?
- attention skills
- problem solving and critical thinking
- working memory
- processing speed
- self-control
What I have tried to work on the past few year in my room are problem solving skills and critical thinking. I think these are things that will carry through to future jobs. Teaching our students to prioritize steps (anchor charts) leads them to the path to solve problems. I am so proud of everything we are putting into our classroom this year with anchor charts to figure out steps, reminder binders-how to search for answers to problems, and even the I cans help them categorize what the intended outcomes are! Hopefully the small problems created in math (minecraft world, creating cat enclosures, setting us Santa's workshop) will give them tools to build on. "Most kids who grow up in poverty don't have experiences solving the kinds of academic problems offered up I class and this process of teaching the brain to think critically and analytically requires support and practice." I can still "cover" my standards by offering up critical thinking activities
ReplyDeleteAwesome problem solving activity examples!!
DeleteWith so much push on reading and math and standards and curriculum it's hard to devote time away from all that. BUT it's needed. I like how you said you can still cover your standards while having your students critically think. I also like in the book where most of the activities take less than 10 mins a day. Hey if it helps in the long run then I'm all about those 10 mins.
DeleteI personally think self-control is the number one key to success later in life. I think everything else falls in line once this becomes mastered. I use mastered very loosely because it is a skill that must constantly be honed. Students who can be taught self control learn they can start to control outcomes rather than life happening to them and then reacting to it. Recently I started having the children tell me when they come into my class if they would like to work at their table or by themselves at a desk. I have five desks and I have too many children who want to work by themselves at a desk rather than at a table. In terms of behavior, it has made a tremendous difference with some children. I have encouraged them to take ownership of their behavior and instead of me sentencing them to a desk - they make the decision. On occasion, I have suggested he or she might want to try a desk and if they say they don't want to and I want them to - I will guide them by saying, "I really want you to be successful in here and sitting at a table seems really difficult for you because of all of the distractions. Let's try this desk for today so I can give a good report to your teacher. Next time we will try the table again. Experience has taught me the importance of self-control. By breaking challenges into steps and mastering each one builds confidence.
ReplyDeleteI think sometimes the kindest word a parent or teacher can tell a child is "no". Helping the child then learn to deal with and make adjustments with that disappointment will make them stronger in the long run. Adult life is full of no's and learning to creatively adjust as a child helps them practice that self - control.
Karen I do agree with you that self-control is essential to learning and life success. I like how you have helped your students to learn they must also take an active roll in knowing themselves and how best to be successful. I do think when we can allow students choices they buy into the process. They will balance a choice they are able to make with something we also need them to accomplish.
DeleteYou make an excellent point! Having self control is key to becoming life-long learners! Sometimes I will need to change a child's seating. Instead of just moving him/her, I will give him a choice of seating. Or, I might frame it this way: I want you to sit where you can do your best.
DeleteI also agree that this one is critical.
DeleteI do believe as the author that these skills discussed in this chapter are able to be improved with attention to them. For me in the STEM room this year I really want to focus on problem solving and critical thinking. The students like to be a part of a process where they are helping to figure something out. What I like about the process is it allows students to be independent and use their strengths and experiences to come to an answer.When working on projects last year in STEM we saw the students who may struggle academically in the classroom shine when attempting to create a project to solve a problem. When students learn to understand that there are many ways to approach problem solving and trial and error actually is encouraged they become more confident. With guidance and boundaries students learn to jump right in and brainstorm with partners and start to address the challenge. Many times as educators we are feel rushed to get everything in and problem solving cannot be rushed. I am going to give myself permission to not be so set on predetermined time frames. I would like to be able to take the time when students are solving STEM projects to ask students about their thinking process and how they came up with their designs. I have found it really interesting to hear their about their process and it helps me to understand each student better. Life is full of opportunities to solve problems. I believe if we teach these skills and allow students the time to practice them we will help them to feel more confident and give them life skills.
ReplyDeleteI like your statement on following predetermined time frames. I have found that often when I assign a project that each year's batch of kids don't necessarily accomplish the same task in the same time. Encouraging these critical thinking skills leads to higher achievement in the long run.
DeleteI would love to see more of the STEM projects. I am one who really does a lot problem solving activities in the classroom and totally agree with the never knowing how much time to allow for problem solving. Our first activity of the year went super fast with figuring out the task, but simple things seem to take longer. Time constraints are always a teachers big issue. Good luck Angie in all the STEM activities you do to teach critical thinking.
DeleteThere are times when I feel so lucky to be teaching what I do. I have always felt that art by it's very nature intrinsically teaches problem solving skills and higher order thinking. I often tell my students that one of the coolest things about art is there is a problem and an infinite number of solutions. I love it when children build on each others ideas and they begin to feel such ownership.
DeleteThere are times when I feel so lucky to be teaching what I do. I have always felt that art by it's very nature intrinsically teaches problem solving skills and higher order thinking. I often tell my students that one of the coolest things about art is there is a problem and an infinite number of solutions. I love it when children build on each others ideas and they begin to feel such ownership.
DeletePick only one action step? Really? I think we need to work on them all! However, probably Problem Solving and Critical Thinking would be a priority. I already do a lot of scaffolding within the academic areas, and model with think-alouds and chart paper. My fifth grade gets DARE lessons, which also teaches a problem solving approach to dealing with situations they may encounter: Define the problem, Assess the choices, Respond, and Evaluate your choice. This strategy comes up over and over in our curriculum, and the students are given lots of experience in problem solving.
ReplyDeleteI really like the author's comment on page 70: "Although students are not stuck with the cognitive capacity they have, some teachers are stuck in their thinking." What are we doing to build the cognitive capacity of every student?
I said the same thing Peggy, pick one? I'm glad you're working on problem solving and critical thinking. I think those are perfect for the older students. i like the quote you pointed out. I literally just said to Knoop today,"It's my 3rd year teaching. What am I doing wrong? I should have this. I should not be struggling." This was a good chapter for me to read. The kids are changing and I'm not.
DeleteThe notion that they are not fixed but, malleable is very exciting to me!!
ReplyDeleteVery difficult to choose but I think overall, problem solving and critical thinking have the widest range of influence. Leaving their mark on future careers, finances, home buying, relationships, etc.!
I took a lot from the possible solutions listed under EACH action step!
I agree very difficult to choose just one:) I think problem solving and critical thinking do cover a wide range. With our kids especially I see such a need for teaching those two.
DeleteI have to go with attention skills. The opening sequence has literally been my thinking this year. "No one is paying attention, no one is listening." It's just been the same frustration over and over. So I absolutely loved this chapter. I highlighted like crazy. I love all the different activities and I'll be using them tomorrow. I just know I'm missing something. The MSC has lead me to believe in more. More from me, more from my students, more from admin, just more. I want my students to succeed. We all do. I know that. Some days are just harder than others. I'm happy to have this book and the resources from MSC. Stop by my room tomorrow we're going to play red light, purple light!
ReplyDeleteI understand your frustration! So hard especially at the beginning of the year. I too loved all the different strategies including red light, purple light. I also liked the clapping game. Such simple activities that can do so much!
DeleteI do agree those skills are malleable. Working in the time as a classroom teacher to focus on those skills is hard. You have to be incorporating academics while working on forming those skills. It is necessary because having those skills is paramount for our students. The author stated, “Teaching thinking skills is one of the most effective ways to boost academic success.” In our classrooms it will be paramount to work on those five actions to build their cognitive capacity.
ReplyDeletePicking one is a very hard choice! All of them have their merits and I could really pick a couple out of those five that I feel have to be taught and learned in order to be successful. I think the one I feel my students truly need the most is self-control. The author states, “Children who are raised in poverty in particular tend to have a greater impulsivity, which leads to behavioral issues.” You can have the other skills but if you don’t have self-control as an adult you are going to struggle with any job and life in general.