Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Why Don't Students Like School: Part 3

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is my first exposure to this book. I do plan to put it on my reading list.

I found alot of his research on student's retainment of material and how to help them succeed in getting information into long term memory match my teaching strategies.

Finding that special formula which combines emotional ties and teaching techniques is always under construction.

Marcia

Ms. Given said...

Whoo - hoo! I don't have to differentiate for multiple intelligences anymore! Okay, just kidding, a little. I always struggled with trying to fit some of the intelligences into lessons and that's because, according to Willingham, Howard Gardner didn't intend for his research to be used in that way...vary your teaching method and style to fit the content rather than the student - this makes a lot of sense to me - and not just because it seems easier. I actually took heart in Willingham's comment that we are more similar in the way that we learn than different from one another. Don't get me wrong, I still think students need choice in their assignments and I need to know my kids well enough to tailor instruction to their level of learning...I just don't have to do jumping jacks and sing a song at the same time.